Obama Speech Heralds Prevention Power of Screening Tests Like Colonoscopy

Gastroenterologists Applaud President's Call for Coverage

BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Gastrointestinal
specialists from the American College of Gastroenterology applaud President
Obama's call to cover preventive screening tests, such as breast cancer exams
and colonoscopy. In his health care speech to a joint session of Congress
last night, the President argued that "there's no reason we shouldn't be
catching diseases like breast cancer and colon cancer before they get worse.
That makes sense."

The American College of Gastroenterology has long supported the lifesaving
potential of screening by colonoscopy specifically because it can detect and
remove pre-cancerous polyps and thereby prevent the development of colorectal
cancer.

"We know screening for colorectal cancer is good health policy, and makes good
economic sense," commented ACG President Dr. Eamonn Quigley. Studies have
shown that for every dollar spent by Medicare for this life-saving test cuts
about $3 in long-term medical costs. The New England Journal of Medicine says
that a colonoscopy colorectal cancer screening is one of the few preventive
services shown to reduce future health care costs.

"That's a good return on investment in any business - especially when you're
saving lives. When screening procedures detect colon cancer early, nine of
ten patients beat the disease. In the absence of screening, colon cancer is
usually found too late and many patients die. Those are starkly different
outcomes that we have the power to change," added Dr. Quigley.

Colonoscopy is one of the most powerful preventive tools in clinical medicine
because of its excellent sensitivity in detecting polyps and its potential for
removing them and breaking the sequence of polyp to cancer in a single
diagnostic and therapeutic intervention. The U.S. Preventive Services Task
Force (USPSTF) provides its only Grade 'A' recommendation of cancer screening
to colorectal cancer screens.

Yet colorectal cancer screenings remain underutilized as only 40 percent of
colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, according to the latest
figures released by the American Cancer Society. The Institute of Medicine
cites poor provider reimbursement as one of the reasons for this
underutilization as well.

"The American College of Gastroenterology continues to be deeply concerned
that the lifesaving potential of colorectal screening tests is unrealized.
The stark reality is that screening tests remain widely underutilized,"
commented Dr. Quigley.

At a time when the overall trend in colorectal cancer mortality is declining
because of the use of screening tests, racial minorities, uninsured Americans,
and Medicare patients who should be tested, are not being screened
appropriately. Recent studies reveal that they are diagnosed with more
advanced cancers compared to patients with private insurance. "We can point
to impressive milestones indicating a trend moving in the right direction, yet
much work remains. We will continue to champion the lifesaving potential of
colonoscopy and work to expand access to lifesaving screening tests," said
Quigley.

The American College of Gastroenterology is committed to national policy
changes to improve access to colorectal screening and increased use of these
proven prevention strategies, including reversing Medicare's massive cuts to
reimbursement for these tests since the benefit was first introduced, as well
as to payments in ambulatory surgery centers where many screening tests are
performed. Congress is considering important colorectal screening legislation
introduced by Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) as the
"Supporting ColoRectal Examination and Education Now" or SCREEN Act (S. 1511).
The bill will also be introduced in the House soon. The College supports
this legislation, which aims to remove barriers to colon cancer screening for
Medicare patients.

About the SCREEN Act

The SCREEN Act promotes access to colorectal cancer screenings by waiving
Medicare beneficiary cost sharing, increasing reimbursement rates for
screening services, and by providing Medicare coverage for a pre-screening
consultation. The SCREEN Act also authorizes the Secretary of Health and
Human Services (HHS) to set a nationwide colorectal cancer screening target
rate, implements colorectal cancer screening grant programs, and would require
annual reminders to Medicare beneficiaries regarding the importance of
colorectal cancer screening.

"At a time when Congress and the President are seeking to improve access to
high quality health care and preventive services, legislation such as the
SCREEN Act will increase the rate of colorectal cancer screening through
proven measures to accomplish these goals," said Dr. Quigley.

About the American College of Gastroenterology
Founded in 1932, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) is an
organization with an international membership of more than 10,000 individuals
from 80 countries. The College is committed to serving the clinically oriented
digestive disease specialist through its emphasis on scholarly practice,
teaching and research. The mission of the College is to serve the evolving
needs of physicians in the delivery of high quality, scientifically sound,
humanistic, ethical, and cost-effective health care to gastroenterology
patients. To learn more, visit www.acg.gi.org.

SOURCE American College of Gastroenterology

Anne-Louise Oliphant, ACG, +1-301-263-9000, mediaonly[at]acg.gi.org