Chest statement calls for lung screening of Medicare patients
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
November 3, 2014 — Chest has published a policy statement on lung cancer screening that calls on the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to approve screening in Medicare-aged individuals.
The statement from the American College of Chest Physicians and the American Thoracic Society, titled “Components Necessary for High-Quality Lung Cancer Screening,” was published online October 30.
“CMS and the [Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC)] group are concerned that the results from the National Lung Screening Trial took place in centers of excellence and academic teaching hospitals, and the balance of harms and benefits will be different in community practice,” said Dr. Gerard Silvestri, president-designate of Chest and statement co-author.
“Our policy statement articulates what was special about these institutions and provides a roadmap for bringing best practices to patients at risk,” he continued. “We’re very eager to see the benefits of this important technology brought in a thoughtful way to people at risk throughout the U.S.”