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Senior Regional Media Advocacy Manager
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Texas Medicaid Policy Updated to Follow ACS Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines
March 3, 2020
AUSTIN, Texas – This fall, Texans on Medicaid with an average risk of receiving a colorectal cancer diagnosis may have their screenings covered starting at age 45.
Texas Health and Human Services recently updated its Medicaid policy to align with current American Cancer Society guidelines, which lowers the starting age for screenings from 50 to 45. The policy change’s public comments are now under review.
In 2020, it is estimated that nearly 11,300 Texans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and approximately 4,070 Texans will succumb to the disease. Prevention through screening with any one of the multiple recommended options available is directly associated with a significant reduction in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality, through the detection and removal of adenomatous polyps and other precancerous lesions.
“Covering these screenings for Medicaid recipients will save lives,” said ACS CAN Texas Senior Government Relations Director Marina Hench. “The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network commends Texas Health and Human Services for updating their policy and keeping Texans healthy.”
Nationwide, colorectal cancer is the third most-diagnosed type of cancer and second leading cause of cancer death for men and women combined.
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