health
Medicare proposal misses the point of cancer prevention
Nearly 20 years ago, I had the privilege of working alongside lawmakers, health experts, and patient advocates to help pass one of the most consequential reforms to Medicare in its history: the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003.
TL;DR
- The proposed CMS coverage framework for colorectal cancer screening tests focuses on detecting cancer, not precancerous polyps.
- Evidence shows that the mortality benefit from colorectal cancer screening comes from finding and removing precancerous lesions before they become cancer.
- A coverage standard that ignores precancerous lesion detection could lead to more cancer deaths among Medicare beneficiaries.
- The author suggests that coverage standards should require screening tests to demonstrate detection of advanced precancerous lesions, regardless of technology.
- This technology-neutral standard would ensure Medicare dollars are directed toward tests that provide the greatest preventive benefit.