A new study by the American Cancer Society revealed that of over 150,000 Medicare beneficiaries, only 25 percent received recommended screenings for colorectal cancer since Medicare initiated coverage for the tests, according to a press release from the American College of Gastroenterology.

The release indicated that while colorectal cancer deaths are decreasing, Medicare patients, minorities and the uninsured had among the worst screening rates.

The president of the ACG believes improved reimbursement for these tests and payments to ambulatory surgery centers can help strengthen access to screenings.

"The good news is that colorectal cancer deaths are down, but marked differences in the experience of colorectal cancer, its impact on quality of life, and death rates are seen between whites and blacks, and between the uninsured, and even those with health coverage under Medicare and Medicaid," says ACG President Amy E. Foxx-Orenstein, DO, FACG, in the release. "The American College of Gastroenterology is committed to national policy changes to improve access to colorectal screening and increased use of these proven prevention strategies, including reversing Medicare’s massive cuts to reimbursement for these tests since the benefit was first introduced, as well as to payments in ambulatory surgery centers where many screening tests are performed."

The ACS's analysis of Medicare beneficiaries receiving colorectal screenings was published in its journal CANCER in January.