CMS coverage for Lung Cancer Screening.
Friday, May 21, 2021
Posted by: Natalia Gromov
The Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services announced that it is officially exploring expanded
reimbursement for low-dose CT lung cancer screening. CMS has opened a National
Coverage Analysis of this radiology service, after the U.S. Preventive Services
Task Force recently recommended screening for the disease beginning at age 50,
rather than 55 and decreasing the eligibility component for “pack-years” from
30 to 20. These changes will result in over 50% of current smokers age 50+
being eligible for lung cancer screening. Associations and physicians
have urged the agency to update lung cancer screening
payment parameters to match the task force’s nonbinding guidance, and CMS
responded May 18 with its newly launched review process. The healthcare
administration is soliciting comments through June 17 and hopes to make a
decision by November. NAQC
will submit comments and will encourage other organizations to do so as well.
According to the notice, CMS hopes to complete the process before February
2022. “CMS considers all public comments and is particularly interested in
clinical studies and other scientific information relevant to the topic under
review,” the notice said.
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