title: Eliminating cost-sharing requirements for colon cancer screening in Medicare.
abstract: Medicare beneficiaries do not have to pay for screening colonoscopies but must pay coinsurance if a polyp is removed via polypectomy. Likewise, beneficiaries do not have to pay for fecal occult blood tests but are liable for cost-sharing for diagnostic colonoscopies after a positive test. Legislative and regulatory requirements related to colorectal cancer screening are described, and on the basis of Medicare claims, it is estimated that Medicare spending would increase by $48 million annually if Medicare were to waive cost-sharing requirements for these services. The economic impact on Medicare if beneficiaries were not responsible for any cost-sharing requirements related to colorectal cancer screening services is described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health and Winship Cancer Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: Gery P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Guy
authors.forename: Donatus U
authors.initials: DU
authors.lastname: Ekwueme
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000191:economics; D017047:Cost Sharing; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States
keywords: Medicare; cancer screening; colorectal cancer; health insurance; health reform