Advocates applauded the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposal to expand eligibility for lung cancer screening on Wednesday, arguing the change will likely save lives.
CMS announced its determination on Nov. 17, believing the evidence is sufficient to drop the screening age from 55 down to 50, among other modifications. The American Lung Association released a report earlier this week, noting that only about 6% of high-risk patients are screened for the disease, with worse outcomes among minority populations.
“Today’s proposal from CMS would give more people enrolled in Medicare access to lifesaving lung cancer screening,” Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the lung association, said in a statement. “Screening for individuals at high risk is the only tool to catch this disease early when it is more curable.”
Back in June, the ALA also submitted comments to the administration voicing “strong support” for the recommendations. The GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and American College of Radiology first requested the national coverage determination in March. ACR also acknowledged the proposal on Thursday, charging that it will remove barriers to care.
“Expanded access to lung cancer screening will help doctors strike a blow against the nation’s leading cancer killer,” Debra Dyer, MD, chair of the college’s Lung Cancer Screening Steering Committee, said Nov. 18.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is now seeking comment on the proposal through Dec. 17 and hopes to finalize its coverage determination by February. ACR said it plans to work with the agency and other advocates to ensure that providers maintain quality in expanded screening programs.
A new study published earlier this month found that, when patients at high risk for lung cancer gain access to Medicare, screening rates increase. And the rise is most pronounced among high-risk males, who would see a 16% jump in screening rates after becoming eligible for the government payment program. A different analysis published last month in JAMA Network Open said updated lung cancer screening guidelines could spell a 54% surge in LDCT imaging eligibility.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.