CMS Launches Comment Period for Lung Cancer Screening
The move follows the issuance of guidelines by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) at the end of last year, which recommend annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for adults 55 to 80 years of age who have a 30 pack-year smoking history and who currently smoke or who quit in the previous 15 years.
The CMS has accepted 2 formal complete requests to initiate a national coverage analysis on lung cancer screening with LDCT. The requests came from Peter Bach, MD, director of the Center for Health Policy and Outcomes at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, and Laurie Fenton Ambrose, president and CEO of the Lung Cancer Alliance.
Since 2009, the CMS has been permitted to add coverage for “additional preventive services” if they meet certain statutory requirements. The agency can add extra services if the national coverage determinations process deems that they are recommended (grade B) or strongly recommended (grade A) by the USPSTF and meet other requirements.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) might be moving closer to covering lung cancer screening for high-risk individuals. On February 10, the agency opened a 30-day public comment period, which is part of the decision-making process regarding coverage. The move follows the issuance of guidelines by the US […]
Click here to view original web page at www.medscape.com
Category: Blog
