On February 10, 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced its updated lung cancer screening eligibility guidelines for people covered by Medicare. As a result, most private insurance plans are required to cover lung cancer screening for those now at high risk under the U.S. Preventative Services Taskforce (USPSTF) criteria. This recommendation nearly doubled the number of individuals eligible for screening by lowering the recommended age range to begin screening from 55 to 50, as well as reducing the minimum pack-year smoking history from 30 to 20.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Each year, it claims more lives than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined. However, thanks to a dedicated multidisciplinary team at St. Peter Hospital and the state-of-the-art Ion robot-assisted bronchoscopy technology, Providence has been able to screen for early detection and support patients on their journey to recovery from lung cancer.
As much a cancer diagnosis can ever be, Jean’s was well-timed. Providence St. Peter Hospital had just launched a new program dedicated specifically to the early detection and quick, streamlined treatment of lung cancer. Leading-edge technology – the Ion robotic-assisted bronchoscopy platform – and a new lung nodule clinic now give local patients a big advantage when they need this type of treatment.