At a certain age (we are not giving medical advice here), doctors suggest patients get a colonscopy. There are now virtual colonoscopies (CT colonography) where a detailed picture of the colon is created by an X-ray machine linked to a computer. It is much less invasive than a regular colonoscopy which typically requires sedation while a doctor examines the colon through an inserted scope and camera.
The governement does not think the virtual colonoscopies are ready for prime time. Medicare and Medicaid's decided not to pay for this less invasive colon exam In a memo posted on its Web site Tuesday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said, "We have determined that there is insufficient evidence on the test characteristics and performance of screening CT colonography in Medicare-aged individuals, and that the evidence is not sufficient to conclude that screening CT colonography improves health benefits for asymptomatic, average-risk Medicare beneficiaries."
I know a long time member at Club One Fitness that just got a colonoscopy. Anything less invasive has to be a good thing. This news does not mean that a virtual colonoscopy is not efficacious. It means the governement is not ready to start paying from them yet. Wherever you stand on where the virtual colonscopy today, it can only get more useful from here and it is exciting technology.
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