March 1, 2018
There are a few options available among U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for at-home screening tests for colon cancer. One of these tests—the Cologuard (DNA FIT) colon cancer screening test—is more expensive for your patients than other options.
Why does the Cologuard test cost more?
The base cost of the test is higher than the cost of other recommended at-home tests for colon cancer screening. The Cologuard test combines a fecal immunochemical test (FIT Test) with a patented DNA test.
Premera pays for preventive care as required by the Affordable Care Act. We’re not currently contracted with Exact Sciences Laboratories, the company and lab that provides the Cologuard test. While we pay for a portion of the Cologuard test, many members have received additional charges for hundreds of dollars.
FIT and FOBT tests are more affordable
Two other test options, fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and fecal immunochemical test (FIT), are also listed among U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for at-home screening tests for colon cancer.
These tests are more affordable for your patients. Your patients will typically pay $30 or less for these tests, depending on their health plan benefits.
If a patient has a positive result after taking any of the tests, the next step may be a colonoscopy.
We encourage you to support colon cancer prevention and keep cost information in mind when recommending at-home colon cancer screening to your patients.