title: Making the case: the impetus for federally mandating insurance companies to cover colorectal cancer screening.
abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths per year in the U.S. The 5-year survival rate of CRC detected early is 90%, but only 39% of CRC is detected in this stage. CRC screening is effective in reducing mortality from this disease, but national screening rates are alarmingly low. Mandated CRC screening insurance coverage significantly increases screening rates. However, mandated coverage varies greatly by state. Bill H.R. 1330, which would federally mandate insurance companies to cover CRC screening for people 50 and older, is currently under consideration by the House of Representatives. Reasons to support this bill and rebuttals to arguments made against H.R. 1330 are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. apriltoomey@gmail.com
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toomey
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Menon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D035082:Federal Government; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D008297:Male; D037141:Mandatory Programs; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States