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Eliminating cost‐sharing requirements for colon cancer screening in M edicare
Author(s) -
Howard David H.,
Guy Gery P.,
Ekwueme Donatus U.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.29093
Subject(s) - medicine , colorectal cancer , cancer
Medicare beneficiaries do not have to pay for screening colonoscopies but must pay coinsurance if a polyp is removed via polypectomy. Likewise, beneficiaries do not have to pay for fecal occult blood tests but are liable for cost‐sharing for diagnostic colonoscopies after a positive test. Legislative and regulatory requirements related to colorectal cancer screening are described, and on the basis of Medicare claims, it is estimated that Medicare spending would increase by $48 million annually if Medicare were to waive cost‐sharing requirements for these services. The economic impact on Medicare if beneficiaries were not responsible for any cost‐sharing requirements related to colorectal cancer screening services is described. Cancer 2014;120:3850–3852. © 2014 American Cancer Society .