Please Support the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act (H.R. 4120)

The Allegheny Center for Digestive Health is pleased to report that Representative Charlie Dent (R-PA) introduced the “Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act” (H.R. 4120) March, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act corrects current law so Medicare beneficiaries will not be liable for paying coinsurance when a colorectal cancer screening colonoscopy also involves the removal of a polyp or other tissue. While the Medicare beneficiary deductible and coinsurance are currently waived for a screening colonoscopy, if a polyp or other tissue is removed as a preventative measure, the screening is billed as a therapeutic procedure. As a result, the Medicare beneficiary receives an unexpected bill for coinsurance. Current law is confusing to both patients and providers and creates a financial deterrent to screening colonoscopy. The Allegheny Center for Digestive Health is committed to removing barriers to screening colonoscopies and fully supports H.R. 4120.

The Allegheny Center for Digest Health urges you to contact your representative and ask him or her to support and cosponsor the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act (H.R. 4120). If your representative is Jason Altmire or Tim Murphy, please thank them for cosponsoring the legislation. This important legislation will take a vital step to reduce barriers to screening colonoscopies, thereby reducing colon cancer and/or increasing the early diagnosis and subsequent diagnosis of early stage and highly treatable colon cancer.

How do you Find and Contact your U.S. Representative? Use the following link to find the contact information for your U.S Representative for your geographic area. By entering your state and zip code, you will be directed to the name and website of your representative.

Sample Text for your Letter to your U.S. Representative Copy and paste the letter below. We encourage you to personalize the letter by adding you or your family member’s experiences with a colonoscopy, removal of polyps, early diagnosis etc.

Please Cosponsor H.R. 1420: Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act As a resident of western Pennsylvania, U.S. citizen and taxpayer, I am asking you to cosponsor the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act (H.R. 4120). The Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act corrects current law so Medicare beneficiaries will not be liable for paying coinsurance when a colorectal cancer screening colonoscopy also involves the removal of a polyp or other tissue. While the Medicare beneficiary deductible and coinsurance are currently waived for a screening colonoscopy, if a polyp or other tissue is removed as a preventative measure, the screening is billed as a therapeutic procedure. As a result, the Medicare beneficiary receives an unexpected bill for coinsurance. Current law is confusing to both patients and providers and creates a financial deterrent to screening colonoscopy. Please join your fellow representative Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) in correcting this flawed legislation by cosponsoring H.R. 1420. If your representative is Jason Altmire or Tim Murphy, please thank them for cosponsoring the legislation. Copy and paste the letter below. We encourage you to personalize the letter by adding you or your family member’s experiences with a colonoscopy, removal of polyps, early diagnosis etc.

Thank you for Cosponsoring H.R. 1420: Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act As a resident of western Pennsylvania, U.S. citizen and taxpayer, thank you for cosponsoring the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act (H.R. 4120). The Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act corrects current law so Medicare beneficiaries will not be liable for paying coinsurance when a colorectal cancer screening colonoscopy also involves the removal of a polyp or other tissue. While the Medicare beneficiary deductible and coinsurance are currently waived for a screening colonoscopy, if a polyp or other tissue is removed as a preventative measure, the screening is billed as a therapeutic procedure. As a result, the Medicare beneficiary receives an unexpected bill for coinsurance. Current law is confusing to both patients and providers and creates a financial deterrent to screening colonoscopy. Thank you for joining your fellow representative Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) in correcting this flawed legislation by supporting H.R. 1420.