LUNGevity Foundation Applauds CMS Decision for Medicare and Medicaid Coverage of High-Risk-Population CT Scans

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- LUNGevity Foundation President Andrea Ferris today applauded the final decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to approve coverage of low-dose computed tomography (CT) screening for high-risk lung cancer populations.

Ferris commented, "We are very happy with the final decision of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to cover annual low-dose CT scans for those at high risk of a lung cancer diagnosis. This screening has the potential to reduce lung cancer deaths for this population by up to 20%. A lot of work went into securing reimbursement for those at high risk for lung cancer and we are very pleased that it has come to fruition."

At the same time, LUNGevity continues to fund critical lung cancer research. "We must continue to accelerate our knowledge about who is at risk for lung cancer, how frequently they should be screened, and how to treat those who have been diagnosed," says Ferris. 

About Lung Cancer

• 1 in 14 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime
• More than 224,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year
• About 60% of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers
• Lung cancer kills more people than the next three cancers (colorectal, breast, and pancreatic) combined
• Only 17% of all people diagnosed with lung cancer will survive 5 years or more, BUT if it's caught before it spreads, the chance for 5-year survival improves dramatically

About LUNGevity Foundation

LUNGevity Foundation is firmly committed to making an immediate impact on increasing quality of life and survivorship of people with lung cancer by accelerating research into early detection and more effective treatments, as well as by providing community, support, and education for all those affected by the disease. Our vision is a world where no one dies of lung cancer. For more information about LUNGevity Foundation, please visit www.LUNGevity.org.

SOURCE LUNGevity Foundation

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