WASHINGTON May 16, 2014 Critical legislation introduced last night in the U.S. Senate would ensure that cost is not a barrier for Medicare beneficiaries trying to access lifesaving colon cancer screenings.
A companion bill to U.S. Representative Charlie Dent 's (R-PA) House legislation (H.R. 1070), the äóÖRemoving Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act, ' (S. 2348) sponsored by U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), would eliminate cost sharing for Medicare beneficiaries receiving a routine screening colonoscopy, even if a polyp is removed. Under current Medicare policy, routine colonoscopies are considered a free preventive service; however, cost sharing is required if a polyp is removed during the procedure. Last year, the administration clarified that those with private insurance should not have to pay when a polyp is removed during a screening colonoscopy.
Colonoscopies are proven to prevent colon cancer and save lives, but any cost-sharing can be a deterrent from getting the screening.
This important bill would help to ensure that everyone has access to lifesaving cancer screenings, regardless of their ability to pay. Even though colorectal cancer is preventable, too many Americans are not screened because they cannot afford it. ACS CAN has joined with more than 50 other public health organizations to commit to increasing the colorectal cancer screening rate to 80% by 2018. By removing financial barriers to screening, Congress would help increase screening rates and reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer.
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Lauren Walens or Steven Weiss
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Phone: (202) 661-5763 or (202) 661-5711
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
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