"Evidence is inadequate to conclude" that virtual colonoscopies are an appropriate colorectal cancer screening test for Medicare patients, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said Tuesday in a statement on its website.
Considering the resounding support from the medical community for the reimbursement of virtual colonoscopy, you have got to wonder what is truly behind CMS' decision. This move certainly does NOT facilitate early screening, which saves healthcare lots of money in the long run, and CMS is well aware of the stumbling blocks involved with optical colonoscopy as a screening tool. At least CMS could throw in a few centavos for a help hotline, providing psychological support for the large percentage of people dreading a traditional colonoscopy: 888-MY-COLON.
It could be the work of a strong gastroenterologist lobby that wants to hold on to the reimbursement for optical colonoscopy. Or this could be another move by CMS to restrict the use of medical imaging as a diagnostic screening method. But that wouldn't be too smart. Nor is this final decision by CMS in the minds of many radiologists.
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