Medicare's colonoscopy loophole endangers seniors, must be dropped
Screening for colorectal cancer saves lives through prevention and early detection. Colon cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented through the detection and removal of precancerous polyps found during routine screenings.
Currently, Medicare, like private insurance, fully pays for routine colonoscopies for the purpose of screening. But, unlike private insurance, if a polyp is found and removed during the procedure, the colonoscopy is categorized as a diagnostic exam, and the Medicare patient must pay a share of the cost.
This loophole, which applies only to Medicare beneficiaries, can leave a patient with a bill that could be as much as $500 out of pocket. So many seniors are not getting needed colonoscopies in fear of the cost of polyp removal.
That is why I am asking Rep. Vern Buchanan to co-sponsor H.R. 1220, the Removing Barriers from Colorectal Cancer Screening Act, and make it a priority. This legislation simply fixes a glitch in Medicare for seniors who undergo a screening colonoscopy.
Nationally this year there will be 134,490 estimated new cases of colorectal cancer and 49,190 estimated deaths; in Florida, 9,710 residents will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year, and 3,500 will die from the disease.
Rep. Buchanan, Floridians need you to support moving the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act forward to ensure seniors have the same access to colorectal cancer screening as others.
The Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act would ensure seniors have the same access to colorectal cancer screenings as others. This legislation could potentially save thousands of lives, reduce suffering and reduce cancer costs in Medicare.
Please call Rep. Buchanan's offices in Bradenton at 941-747-9081; Sarasota, 941-951-2972, or D.C. 202-225-5015.
Nancy Ambrose, Volunteer, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Holmes Beach/Bradenton
This story was originally published April 5, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Medicare's colonoscopy loophole endangers seniors, must be dropped ."