ACR, other groups lobby for CTC screening bill

The American College of Radiology (ACR) is joining colorectal cancer care advocates, minority healthcare organizations, and other medical associations in calling on Congress to pass the CT Colonography (CTC) Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act, a bipartisan bill that would provide Medicare coverage for CTC screening.

The bill, HR 1969, was introduced Tuesday in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Danny Davis (D-IL) and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH). The legislation in support of CTC, also known as virtual colonoscopy, is also being supported by the Hispanic Health Council, Fight Colorectal Cancer, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, Prevent Cancer Foundation, and the Colon Cancer Coalition.

"Medicare coverage of virtual colonoscopy can increase screening, help doctors find more cancers early, and avoid cancers by removing polyps before they turn cancerous," said ACR Colon Cancer Committee Chair Dr. Judy Yee in a statement from the ACR. "This will save lives -- particularly among those where screening rates are historically lower and outcomes not as good."