Don't Let Seniors Wake Up To Surprises When Preventing Cancer!
Our seniors are facing a policy loophole that can land them with an unexpected bill just for trying to protect themselves from colorectal cancer.
Right now, colonoscopy is a covered benefit for Medicare patients - they don't owe anything to get screened! However, if a doctor finds a polyp during the test and removes it, the colonoscopy is reclassified to "diagnostic" and the patient is charged a co-pay or deductible.
The removal of polyps during a colonoscopy is imperative - it's what prevents colon cancer. However - it's the unexpected charge that a patient may wake up to that stops some seniors from getting screened.
We can't keep letting financial barriers like this stand in the way of protecting our health!
Led by Rep. Charlie Dent, H.R. 1070 - Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act - would remove the reclassification when a polyp is removed during colonoscopy, and eliminate this unexpected charge. This piece of legislation is our best chance for fixing the Medicare coinsurance problem this year.
Take action today: Join us in calling on members of the House to cosponsor the "Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act" (H.R. 1070) and members of the Senate to introduce a companion bill.
Dear [Representative],
When it comes to protecting our health, seniors should not be surprised with an extra bill just for taking steps to prevent cancer. Unfortunately, right now an oversight in law that requires Medicare beneficiaries to pay a coinsurance when they have a screening colonoscopy and the physician removes potentially pre-cancerous polyps.
This unfair glitch in the law has been in effect since 2011. It is time for Congress to get rid of this barrier to colorectal cancer screening colonoscopy.
Reps. Charlie Dent (R-PA), Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Joe Courtney (D-CT) are asking their colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join them on a letter to leaders of the Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees requesting that H.R. 1070, the "Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Act," be included in any Medicare package that is considered by the House this year.
This legislative vehicle is our best chance for fixing the Medicare coinsurance problem this year. Please, I urge you to fully support H.R. 1070 the "Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Act" and to call on your colleagues as well to make sure they are making protecting seniors from colorectal cancer a priority this year!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
