December 16, 2021
Premera
updated its preventive care benefits for colorectal cancer screenings to cover
our members ages 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. The task force previously recommended beginning screenings at age
50.
The
new screening benefit is effective January 1, 2022, for all members ages 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)