ADVOCACY SPOTLIGHT


Prevent Colorectal Cancer Get screened and support the screening act BY BILL PRENTICE


M


arch is National Colorectal Can- cer Awareness Month. Accord-


ing to www.cancer.gov, colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer, affecting more than 137,000 Americans and killing more than 50,000 in 2013. The Centers for Dis- ease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released research showing that if all precancerous polyps were iden- tified and removed, the number of new colorectal cancer cases could be reduced by 76 to 90 percent. Given how easily preventable colon cancer could be, the number of families torn apart by this deadly disease each year is even more heartbreaking. The US Preventive Services Task


Force recommends that all Americans age 50 and older undergo regular colonoscopies in accordance with their doctors’ recommendations. This simple procedure has the potential to virtually eliminate colorectal cancer. Medicare waives coinsurance and


deductibles for colonoscopies because the procedure is classified as preventive care. When a polyp is discovered and removed, however, the procedure is reclassified as therapeutic for Medicare billing purposes and patients are required to pay the coinsurance. This quirk in federal law leads some seniors to face a surprise medical bill at the worst possible time, while also serving as a disincentive for others to get this preventive service. For this


reason, ASCA supports


the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act. This legislation would eliminate any costs for Medi- care beneficiaries when a polyp is dis- covered and removed, ensuring that the potential for unexpected copays does not deter a patient from having the screening performed. By elimi- nating financial barriers, this legisla-


22 ASC FOCUS MARCH 2015


way to end this is to work together to raise awareness. Here is what you can do to help: ■


If you are 50 or older, undergo reg- ular colonoscopies as directed by your doctor.


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Talk to your friends and family mem- bers about the importance of early screenings. Every adult over the age of 50 should undergo a routine colonos- copy as directed by their physician.


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ASCA supports the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act. This legislation would eliminate any costs for Medicare beneficiaries when a polyp is discovered and removed.”


—Bill Prentice, ASCA


tion would promote higher screening rates and could reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer. This disease destroys lives despite being easily preventable. The only


Track the Latest Regulatory and Legislative News for ASCs


Visit ASCA’s web site every week to stay up to date on the latest government affairs news affecting the ASC industry. Every week, ASCA’s Government Affairs Update newsletter is posted online for ASCA members to read. The weekly newsletter tracks and analyzes the latest legislative and regulatory developments concerning ASCs.


www.ascassociation.org/ GovtAffairsUpdate


Take a moment to send a letter to your members of Congress ask- ing them to cosponsor the Remov- ing Barriers to Colorectal Can- cer Screening Act. This legislation would go a long way toward ensur- ing our nation’s seniors have access to the preventive care they need. The Affordable Care Act requires


private insurance companies to cover colonoscopies as preventive care, which means you and your loved ones with private insurance will not face additional costs associated with the procedure. ASCA implores Congress to act so that Medicare provides the same benefit. Unfortunately, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has asserted that it does not have the authority to close this loophole without congressional intervention. A colonoscopy is simple and relatively inexpensive and could save you and your family a lot of pain and suffering in the long run. Learn more at www.ascassociation.org/Advancing SurgicalCare/ascpolicyfocus/colorectal cancerawareness.


Colorectal cancer is a tragic disease,


but by communicating the benefit of early detection to friends and loved ones and encouraging them to take advantage of preventive care such as screening colonoscopies, we can save countless lives.


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