United States Preventive Services Task Force Expand Lung Cancer Screening Recommendations
Breaking news for those at-risk of lung cancer!
Today, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) expanded their lung cancer screening recommendations to include an additional 7 million current and former smokers. According to this final recommendation, anyone aged 50 to 80 with a smoking history of 20 pack-years should be screened for lung cancer with a low-dose chest tomography (LDCT).
Back in July 2020, the USPSTF had an open comment period on lung cancer screening guidelines. We, along with many other industry stakeholders and individuals like yourselves, recommended dramatically expanding the lung cancer screening recommendations. Our message clearly got through to policymakers, and the awareness by gov’t and industry around the deadliest of all cancers continues to build.
Our team is eager to further support those at risk of lung cancer by commercializing our IONIQ ProLung Test, which has already been designated a Breakthrough Device by the US FDA for its life-enhancing potential. Shifting the diagnosis to the earliest stages of the disease can improve 5-year survivability from 17% to 80%. Our ability to measure the body’s early warning system to the presence of cancer means that we will be positioned to make early detection possible. Watch us modernize cancer detection!
Breaking news again in February 2022:
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) announced a national coverage determination (NCD) that expands coverage for lung cancer screening with low dose computer tomography (LDCT) to improve health outcomes for people with lung cancer.
The final decision expands eligibility for people with Medicare to get lung cancer screening with LDCT by lowering the starting age for screening from 55 o 50 years and reducing the tobacco smoking history from at least 30 packs per year to at least 20 packers per year.
“Expanding coverage broadens access for lung cancer screening to at-risk populations,” said CMS Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Clinical Standard and Quality, Dr. Lee Fleischer. “Today’s decision not only expands access to quality care but also is critical to improving health outcomes for people by helping detect lung cancer earlier.”
To read the final decision, visit the CMS website at: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/ncacal-decision-memo.aspx?proposed=N&ncaid=304