November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States and worldwide.
Although education, research and treatment options for lung cancer have dramatically improved in recent years, lung cancer still causes more deaths than prostate, breast, and colon cancers combined.
There is good news; Medicare covers screening for lung cancer with LDCT to detect lung cancer at its earliest stages, when it’s most treatable. Unfortunately, only five to fifteen percent of eligible beneficiaries receive routine screenings for lung cancer.
Under Medicare Part B, beneficiaries can receive counseling and shared decision-making visits for lung cancer screening counseling.
Beneficiaries who meet the eligibility criteria listed below can receive an annual screening for lung cancer with LDCT as an additional preventative service benefit.
- Age 50 – 77 years
- Asymptomatic (no signs or symptoms of lung cancer)
- Tobacco smoking history of at least 20 pack-years (one pack-year = smoking one pack per day for one year; 1 pack =20 cigarettes)
- Current smoker or one who has quit smoking within the last 15 years
- Receive an order for lung cancer screening with LDCT
Visit our Tobacco Cessation web page to learn more about this and other important preventative service that can help prevent lung cancer.
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Posted 10/23/2023