Today, AGA, ACG, ASGE and Fight CRC were joined by 90 medical societies and patient advocacy organizations in pushing three federal agencies for improved access to life-saving colorectal cancer screenings.
Specifically, the letter called for the Departments of Health & Human Services, Labor, and Treasury to issue policy clarifications that ensure surveillance colonoscopies are covered as a preventive service under the Affordable Care Act. This change is consistent with Medicare coverage policy and we believe it would also follow US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines.
You can help! Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) is urging colleagues to join her on a letter to HHS Secretary Becerra, urging the agency to make these policy clarifications. Please encourage your lawmaker to support this initiative.
Patient impact
Although surveillance colonoscopy is part of the screening continuum, many private insurers classify them as diagnostic procedures, inappropriately subjecting higher-risk patients to additional cost-sharing.
It is imperative that we have in place policies that foster the screening continuum and reduce barriers to preventive care, like cost-sharing. We are hopeful the Biden Administration will heed this call to action.
