{"id":15195,"date":"2022-02-28T19:37:48","date_gmt":"2022-02-28T19:37:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.medicalbillersandcoders.com\/blog\/?p=15195"},"modified":"2026-01-12T07:22:04","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T07:22:04","slug":"expanded-coverage-of-lung-cancer-screening-with-ldct","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.medicalbillersandcoders.com\/blog\/expanded-coverage-of-lung-cancer-screening-with-ldct\/","title":{"rendered":"Expanded Coverage of Lung Cancer Screening with LDCT"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers and the leading cause of cancer-related death in both men and women in the United States. This screening is aimed at the early detection of non-small cell lung cancer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On 10<\/span>th<\/span> Feb 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a national coverage determination (NCD) that expands coverage for lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) to improve health outcomes for people with lung cancer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This final decision expands eligibility for people with Medicare to get lung cancer screening with LCDT by lowering the starting age for screening from 55 to 50 years and reducing the tobacco smoking history from at least 30 packs per year to at least 20 packs per year. <\/span><\/p>\n

The only recommended screening test for lung cancer is LDCT, a unique computed tomography (CT) scan technique that combines special X-ray equipment with sophisticated computers to produce multiple, cross-sectional images of the inside of the body. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cExpanding coverage broadens access for lung cancer screening to at-risk populations,\u201d said CMS Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, Dr. Lee Fleisher.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The final decision also simplifies requirements for the counseling and shared decision-making visit and, based on public comments received on the proposed NCD and additional review, removes the requirement for the reading radiologist to document participation in continuing medical education, thereby reducing the administrative burden on providers. <\/span><\/p>\n

CMS also added a requirement back to the NCD criteria for radiology imaging facilities to use a standardized lung nodule identification, classification, and reporting system.<\/span><\/p>\n

Summary of Expanded Coverage<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reconsidered the national coverage determination established in section 210.14 of the Medicare National Coverage Determinations manual and has determined that the evidence is sufficient to expand the eligibility criteria for Medicare beneficiaries receiving low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) when the following criteria are met:<\/span><\/p>\n

Beneficiary Eligibility Criteria<\/strong><\/h3>\n