[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3288]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   VIRTUAL COLONOSCOPIES AND MEDICARE

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, the President just had a 
physical and is apparently very healthy. Among the tests he had was a 
virtual colonoscopy to screen for colorectal cancer. A virtual 
colonoscopy employs x ray technology that produces a three-dimensional 
image of the entire colorectal structure. However, it is much less 
invasive and does not require sedation that is often needed for a 
standard colonoscopy.
  I bring this up because the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
have denied coverage of this procedure for seniors enrolled in 
Medicare. Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer among 
men and women in the United States and the second leading cause of 
cancer death, despite having a 90 percent cure rate when detected 
early. Many insurers like Anthem Blue Cross-Blue Shield and CIGNA cover 
this virtual procedure but not Medicare.
  The National Cancer Institute Colorectal Cancer Progress Review Group 
predicts that the minimal invasiveness and lower cost of this procedure 
could attract more people to be screened, with the possibility of 
saving 20,000 lives annually. The President has set an example. The 
American Cancer Society recommends it. Medicare should cover it as a 
provided procedure.

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