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A middle-aged white female patient lies on a table before receiving a CT colonography scan while looking at an African American female radiologist wearing a white coat and white female radiologic technologist wearing blue scrubs.

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Awareness Efforts Aimed at Boosting Colorectal Cancer Screening

A middle-aged white female patient lies on a table before receiving a CT colonography scan while looking at an African American female radiologist wearing a white coat and white female radiologic technologist wearing blue scrubs.
Judy Yee, MD, FACR

Judy Yee, MD, FACR

April 3, 2025

Judy Yee, MD, FACR, Chair of the American College of Radiology® (ACR®) Colon Cancer Committee, contributed this piece. 

In March we marked Colorectal Cancer Awareness month – a time to remind people about the importance of getting screened for colorectal cancer. Colorectal Cancer is now the leading cancer killer in men under 50 and the second leading cause of cancer death for women under 50 but it is also nearly always treatable if caught early and can even be prevented through timely screening.

As we move forward, I want to reflect on the efforts of the American College of Radiology® (ACR®) and look ahead to the future. 

  • In November 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized its proposal to allow coverage of CT colonography (CTC) for colorectal cancer screening of Medicare patients. This was long advocated for by ACR and will certainly result in saving more lives. 
  • In January, the College launched a radio public service announcement campaign informing people that in addition to private insurance, Medicare now covers CTC for colorectal cancer screening and other less invasive exams. 
  • President Trump officially declared March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. ACR signed on to a letter with other advocacy organizations requesting this action. 
  • In October 2025, the ACR Education Center will host an in-person course  aimed at educating radiologists in the technique, performance, and interpretation of CTC through the supervised review of a minimum of 50 cases. Attendees can earn up to 20.5 CME.
  • In March, ACR and partner organizations published an article in 2,500 news outlets nationwide titled Medicare Now Covers Less Invasive Colorectal Cancer Tests. 
  • Learn more about the benefits, value and current reimbursement of CT Colonography by accessing an on-demand webinar hosted March 25 (registration required to access).

ACR also offers a variety of resources for patients and providers about colorectal cancer screening on the new and improved acr.org. 

Help your patients get their recommended screened for colorectal cancer starting at age 45 at any time of the year – it could save their life.

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