Wiki Screening colonoscopies

[Colliemom]

Does anyone know when Medicare changed the rule that allows Screening colonoscopies for high risk patients once every 4 years to once every 2 years?

 

[j.berkshire]

Effective July 1, 2001, CMS expanded the colorectal screening benefit to include the G0121, colonoscopy for the average risk patient every 10 years. The benefit payable every 4 years is the G0104, screening sigmoidoscopy. See the CMS IOM #100-04, Chapter 18, Section 60. http://www.cms.gov/manuals/downloads/clm104c18.pdf

 

[Lisa Bledsoe]

24 months

Medicare allows high risk patients to have a screening colonoscopy every 24 months.

 

[KRED]

High risk colonoscopies are covered by medicare once every 2 years.

 

[JenReyn99]

Also, just for verification purposes, per CMS a person is considered to be at high-risk if they have any of the following:
-A close relative (sibling, parent, or child) who has had colorectal cancer or an adenomatous polyp
-A family history of adenomatous polyposis
-A family history of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer
-A personal history of adenomatous polyps
-A personal history of colorectal cancer
-A personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis.

 

[Colliemom]

Thanks, yes, we realize Screening colonoscopies for High risk patients are now covered every 2 years. But we want to know when it was changed to allow the patients to have one every 2 years...because my supervisor is telling me it use to be covered only every 4 or 5 years for high risk patients.

 

[smrgr]

Yes, your supervisor is correct. It was 48 months but changed I want to say 2006ish.. I can't find it in my archives.