Premera has updated its preventive care benefits for colorectal cancer screenings to cover our members aged 45 to 75 years. This change is in response to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) expanding the recommended age range for screening.
Previously, the task force recommended beginning screenings at age 50.
The new screening benefit is effective January 1, 2022, for all members aged 45 to 75 years. The covered preventive screenings include:
Stool-based tests
- Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (fFOBT)
- Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
- FIT-DNA test (stool DNA test, e.g. Cologuard)
Direct visualization tests
- Screening colonoscopy
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy with FIT
- CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy—requires prior authorization through AIM)
You can help your clients know and use their preventive benefits by:
- Reminding them preventive benefits are paid in full when in-network providers are used
- Letting group clients know ready-to-share resources about preventive services are available in B’link