The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) is congratulating a group of Congressmen for their leadership in supporting Medicare coverage of low dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for patients at high risk of lung cancer. Reps. Charles Boustany, Jr, MD (R-La), John Barrow (D-Ga), Jim Renacci (R-Ohio) and Richard E. Neal (D-Mass) recently published an op-ed in The Hill titled, “If we can cut the leading cause of cancer death, shouldn’t we?”
“We commend these Congressmen for their unrelenting commitment to provide Medicare beneficiaries with the same life-saving LDCT technologies as many individuals with private health insurance,” said Gail Rodriguez, executive director of MITA. “Lung cancer afflicts tens of thousands of Americans every year, but with this technology we have the power and opportunity to reduce lung cancer deaths by 20 percent. We urge the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to adhere to the evidence and provide coverage for LDCT for high-risk seniors nationwide.”
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) previously recommended that LDCT screening be implemented for high-risk patients. Private insurers will begin covering the screening in January 2015.
For more information, visit MITA.
