After many years of advocacy by the American College of Radiology® (ACR®), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will cover CT colonography (CTC) for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening beginning Jan. 1. CMS confirmed the coverage — sought by ACR since the early 2000s — in its 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and 2025 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System final rules released Nov. 1.
“This decision will help improve access to CRC screening for underserved populations and people of color to help improve health disparities,” said Judy Yee, MD, FACR, Chair of the ACR Colon Cancer Committee. “Our goal is to continue to improve CRC screening rates across the country. Similar to colonoscopy, CTC can help prevent cancer by detecting the precursor polyp before it becomes cancerous.”
ACR applauds CMS’ decision to provide Medicare patients access to a minimally invasive CRC screening tool that does not require anesthesia.
For more information, contact Katie Keysor, ACR Senior Director of Economic Policy.