No more surprise bills: Private insurance plans must cover the full colorectal cancer screening continuum

On Jan. 10, 2022, the Biden Administration issued guidance requiring private insurers to cover colonoscopy when needed as a follow-up to a non-invasive colorectal cancer screening test. This will prevent patients from receiving surprise bills for a colonoscopy when they receive a positive result from a stool-based test.  

Representatives of AGA, American Cancer Society, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and Fight CRC worked together to urge the Administration to make this change, including last fall meeting with regulators from the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury, (which together regulate private insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act) to request they provide direction to private health plans.  We applaud the Administration for supporting coverage of the full colorectal cancer screening continuum, which will improve access to life-saving screening. 

“Now patients can choose the best colorectal cancer screening test for them without fear of a surprise bill. Patients have full coverage of the full screening continuum—from an initial stool or endoscopic test to a follow-up colonoscopy. Now that the financial barriers have been eliminated, we can focus on increasing screening so we can prevent cancer deaths,” says John Inadomi, MD, president of the AGA.   

The coverage guidance expands on the requirement that plans start providing the screening benefit to patients age 45+ for plan or policy years beginning on or after May 31, 2022.  For health insurance plans that have already been implemented, patients need to check with their insurance provider as they may not include this coverage until next year. 

“Ensuring individuals have access to this lifesaving screening will significantly reduce suffering and death from this disease,” said Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “This year alone, the American Cancer Society estimates more than 150,000 individuals will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and more than 52,000 will die from the disease. But colorectal cancer is preventable when pre-cancerous polyps are found and removed through a colonoscopy. The announcement from the Tri-Agencies clarifying all private insurance plans must fully cover colonoscopies after a positive non-invasive stool test will save lives from colon cancer. ACS CAN will work to expand this coverage to traditional Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to help ensure all individuals who need a colonoscopy are able to access one.” 

“Non-invasive colorectal cancer screening tests are an important tool in the fight against colorectal cancer, particularly in light of challenges patients have faced due to COVID-19, and as we expand our efforts to reach medically underserved communities,” says Anjee Davis, MPPA, president of Fight Colorectal Cancer.” This guidance will help ensure that patients can choose the test that is best for them without worrying about out-of-pocket costs. Ultimately this will save lives and support early detection of colorectal cancer.” 

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