2014

HomeWashington Letter2014 ▶ CMS Advisory Panel Recommends Against Medicare Lung Cancer Screening
CMS Advisory Panel Recommends Against Medicare Lung Cancer Screening

May 2014

This week, an advisory panel recommended against the addition of CT lung cancer scan as a preventative service for Medicare beneficiaries. The panel was convened, in part, in response to the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force decision earlier this year that gave CT lung cancer screening a "B" grade. All services that receive an "A" or "B" grade from the taskforce must be covered by private insurance plans at no cost to beneficiaries.

While private insurance plans must cover A and B grade services, Medicare has a different decision-making process and is not necessarily bound by USPSTF recommendations. While the advisory committee panel's recommendation is not binding, it does make it unlikely that CMS will broadly cover CT lung scans in all settings. However, CMS does have alternative coverage options available, including "coverage with evidence development" which could allow the screening to be offered to Medicare beneficiaries in the context of registries or controlled trials.

Last Reviewed: October 2017