The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently recommended an update to lung cancer screening guidelines, with screening being performed through a low-dose Computed Tomography (CT) exam. According to the medical imaging community website, Aunt Minnie, “The move would bring Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement in line with recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which itself lowered … Read More
CT screenings can cut lung cancer deaths according to study
According to a study conducted in the Netherlands and published in the January 2020 New England Journal of Medicine, annual Computed Tomography (CT) screenings of former and current long-time smokers have been proven to reduce deaths from lung cancer. “Wonderful News” Dr. Debra Dyer, a spokeswoman for the American College of Radiology and chair of radiology at National Jewish Health … Read More
Millions at high risk for lung cancer should be screened yearly, panel says
Barbara Mantel, NBC News — In a move that could affect millions of current and former smokers, a highly influential, independent panel of medical experts is recommending yearly screening for healthy adults between the ages of 55 and 80 at high risk for lung cancer. The screening would be done with low-dose computed tomography, commonly known as CT scans — … Read More
CT lung cancer screening: the advantages it provides to the patient and physician
In an update to the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), which was launched in 2002, researchers from the United States are reporting a sustained reduction in cancer deaths from Computed Tomography (CT) lung screening over a decade later after the initial screening exam. The research findings were recently published for medical professionals online in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology. Among … Read More
Lung cancer screening guidelines adjusted to start at age 50
In a published article in a medical journal, the Journal of the American Medical Association, the U.S. Preventive Task Force has announced that it is recommending ” anyone between ages 50 and 80 who has smoked at least 20 “pack-years” and either still smokes or quit within the last 15 years… The task force recommendation means insurers must offer the … Read More
Lawmakers urge Medicare coverage for cancer test
More than 130 lawmakers are urging the Obama administration to expand coverage for a lung-cancer test under Medicare that could cost the program billons, calling the screening important for vulnerable seniors. In a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the lawmakers called for a timely decision on coverage for low-dose CT scans for older patients at higher … Read More
CT lung cancer screenings to be covered by Medicare
Diagnostic Imaging Services shares a story about Medicare’s decision to cover annual low-dose CT lung cancer screenings for high-risk individuals, albeit with restrictions. The announcement is in contrast to the recommendations of the agency’s advisory panel, which had voted a lack of confidence in sufficient evidence for benefit over harms, citing the high false-positive rate of CT screening, indication creep … Read More
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) releases final lung screening approval
In a major victory for individuals at high risk for lung cancer, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final decision memo on CT lung cancer screening. The current version contains several changes from last fall’s draft decision memo smokers may now be screened up to age 77 rather than age 74. And the memo … Read More
Fewer lung cancer patients meet CT lung screening criteria
The success of public health efforts to get people to stop smoking is resulting in fewer individuals being eligible for CT lung cancer screening. In fact, some people are continuing to smoke just to be eligible for CT scans, according to new research in the Journal of the American Medical Association. It’s the ultimate irony. As a result, researchers and … Read More
Lung cancer Isn’t the only smoking-related cancer
A 2015 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine has found that 48.5 percent of around 346,000 deaths attributed to 12 types of cancer are caused by cigarette smoke. Lead researcher from the American Cancer Society, Dr. Rebecca L. Siegel, and her colleagues combed through data from the 2011 National Health Interview Survey and the Cancer Prevention Study III. The research … Read More