The American College of Radiology and other physicians and patient groups are strongly urging Congress to pass the CT Colonography Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act that would provide Medicare coverage for the procedure.

CT colonography, also known as virtual colonoscopy, uses CT or MR imaging to generate a 3-D image of the interior lining of the colon and rectum. It’s much less invasive than a standard colonoscopy procedure.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force assigned an “A” grade to CTC under the Affordable Care Act, and requires private insurers to cover the procedure with no copay. However, Medicare refuses to provide coverage.
Currently, CMS covers colorectal screening for average-risk individuals age 50 and older using fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy and barium enema. The agency stated, “Neither the Medicare law nor the regulations identify the CTC test as a possible coverage option under the colorectal cancer screening benefit.”

The ACS found that U.S. Hispanics are more likely to die from colorectal cancer than those in many Central and South American countries, yet only half of that patient population age 50 and older gets screened. African Americans also have lower screening rates and a higher death rate for colorectal cancer.

“We need more Medicare-covered options, including CT colonography, to increase Hispanic screening rates and save lives,” Dr. Elena V. Rios, president and CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association, said in a statement.

This is not the first time patient and physician organizations have spoken out about this. In August 2016, the ACR, Colon Cancer Alliance, Colon Cancer Coalition and Prevent Cancer Foundation called on CMS to cover CTC.

They cited a 2015 study published in the journal Abdominal Imaging that found that screening Medicare patients with CTC would reduce colorectal cancer screening costs by 29 percent and save Medicare up to $1.7 per screening cycle.

In addition, former president Barack Obama received a CTC in 2010 to screen for colorectal cancer. ACR stated at the time that “Congress and the administration should act now to ensure that seniors have the same access as the president to this less invasive, cutting-edge care.”

Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. It’s estimated that there will be 95,520 new cases of colorectal cancer in 2017.

The CT Colonography Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Danny Davis of Illinois and Congressman Brad Wenstrup of Ohio.

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