Hermitage, Pa. - Today, U.S. Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.), joined by doctors and hospital staff at the Sharon Regional Health System Cancer Care Center in Hermitage, Pa., touted H.R. 1926, the Colon Cancer Screen for Life Act, bipartisan legislation to improve access to lifesaving colon cancer screening tests for Medicare beneficiaries.

“As the number two cancer killer in the country, it is clear that we are losing too many lives to a disease that can easily be prevented through early detection,” said English, a senior member on the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, who has championed a variety of cancer prevention initiatives. “Today, I am pleased to announce legislation that will greatly improve access to colon cancer screening and ensure seniors are able to conveniently utilize this critical lifesaving procedure.”

Medicare coverage for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening through colonoscopy was authorized in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, and further expanded in 2000 when the colonoscopy benefit was added for high risk beneficiaries.  However, recent studies show that Medicare patients are not utilizing coverage of CRC preventive screenings.  According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), since the implementation of the benefit in 1998, the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries receiving either a screening or diagnostic colonoscopy has increased by only one percent.

George Garrow, M.D., director of medical oncology for Sharon Regional's Cancer Care Center, fully supports the efforts to improve access to colon cancer screening. "Far too often we're seeing colon cancer patients with more advanced stages of disease that might have been detected earlier, had the patients been more proactive in their approach to colon cancer screening," stated Dr. Garrow.    "All of us here at the Cancer Care Center are constantly looking at various means to inform the public about the importance of early screening and detection. Anything the government can do to help make that process easier is certainly welcome," Dr. Garrow concluded

In 2005, English introduced the Colon Cancer Screen for Life Act to improve access to lifesaving colon cancer screening tests.  A portion of English’s bill, to waive the Medicare Part B deductible for colonoscopies as was the practice for mammograms, was enacted into law as part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-171).

“By waiving the deductible, we have certainly improved access to colon cancer screening and helped ensure local seniors can more easily access this important preventative benefit,” English said.  “While this is a strong step forward towards conquering the disease, there is still more to be done.”

This Congress, English, along with U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.), re-introduced the Colon Cancer Screen for Life Act and are working to raise awareness of the issue and garner bipartisan support. The measure, H.R. 1926, would continue the progress English made in 2005 by expanding Medicare coverage to include an outpatient visit or consultation prior to a screening colonoscopy and increase Medicare reimbursements to physicians for colon cancer screening and diagnostic tests.

“There is no doubt that screening saves lives,” English said.  “By combining common sense initiatives, my bill offers a cost-effective way to improve the health and lifestyles for millions of Americans. This bill embodies the old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

March 2008 marks the eighth annual National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and provides an opportunity for everyone to learn more about colorectal cancer: how to prevent, diagnose and treat it.  According to the American Cancer Society, in 2008, an estimated 148,810 new cases will be diagnosed and an estimated 49,960 deaths will be caused by colorectal cancer.  In Pennsylvania alone, it is estimated that 7,560 new cases will be diagnosed and 2,560 will die from the disease.  If detected and treated early, 90 percent of cases are preventable.

**Summary of the Legislation follows:

THE COLON CANCER SCREEN FOR LIFE ACT
Introduced by Congressmen English and Neal

H.R. 1926, the Colon Cancer Screen for Life Act, aims to improve utilization of lifesaving colorectal cancer screening among Medicare beneficiaries and beneficiary access to the procedures, and also to improve Medicare coverage of procedures.  It accomplishes this by making two changes to current law.

First, the legislation would increase Medicare reimbursement for colorectal cancer related procedures to ensure that physicians are able to recover the costs of providing these valuable services.

The bill would increase reimbursement for procedures performed in a physician's office by 10%; it would increase reimbursement for procedures performed in a Hospital Outpatient Department (HOPD) or Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) by 30%.  By addressing the reimbursement issue, the legislation also facilitates improved access for Medicare beneficiaries.

Second, the bill would provide Medicare coverage for a preoperative visit or consultation prior to a screening colonoscopy.

Medicare currently pays for a consultation prior to a diagnostic colonoscopy and should pay for this visit before a screening colonoscopy, as it is no less necessary.

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