Relation Between Medicare Screening Reimbursement and Stage at Diagnosis for Older Patients With Colon Cancer

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Abstract
Regular screening is the most effective mechanism for detecting colon cancer at an early, curable stage.1-6 Although widespread use of colorectal cancer screening has been advocated by professional organizations, dissemination and adoption at the population level has been suboptimal.7-9 The 2000 National Health Interview Survey demonstrated that 42.5% of respondents 50 years of age and older were up to date with colon cancer screening with any of the recommended modalities; among persons 65 years of age and older, 48.7% were up to date.10 Studies focusing on endoscopic screening have reported even lower adherence rates, with only 23% to 43% of eligible patients reporting endoscopic screening at the recommended time intervals.11-13