House Bill Would Make Colonoscopy, Polyp Removal Free for Medicare Patients

Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) has introduced a bill that could ensure all colorectal cancer screening for Medicare beneficiaries is free, according to a News-Medical report.

The Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2012 waives the co-insurance for a screening colonoscopy regardless of whether a polyp or lesion is found. Under the federal healthcare reform law, Medicare waives the coinsurance and deductible for colonoscopies — unless a polyp is found and removed, which reclassifies the screening as a therapeutic procedure and requires coinsurance.

According to the report, The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy have been advocating for the past year and a half that Congress correct this "cost-sharing" problem. Supporters of the bill say the "cost-sharing" issue can discourage Medicare beneficiaries from undergoing potentially life-saving colonoscopies.

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