CMS Approves PET scans for OC Patients

Great news for OC patients !
OCNA issued an e-mail regarding the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services coverage of PET scans:

"CMS has reviewed evidence on the use of FDG PET imaging to determine subsequent treatment strategy in patients with ovarian cancer. CMS has determined that the available evidence is adequate to determine that FDG PET imaging improves physician decision making in the determination of subsequent treatment strategy in Medicare beneficiaries who have ovarian cancer, improves health outcomes and is thus reasonable and necessary under§1862(a)(1)(A) of the Act. Therefore, CMS has determined that FDG PET imaging is nationally covered for this indication for this tumor type."

In OCNA's e-mail they noted that PET scans were considered so effective by doctors that almost as many OC patients were scanned through the National Oncological PET Registry as were prostate cancer patients . There are 11 times more prostate cancer diagnoses per year than ovarian cancer diagnosis.

Back in 2005 I went back and forth with my insurance company for 8 months before they finally covered my PET. It is great to know that I won't have to worry about coverage in the future.

Thank you Cara Tenenbaum (OCNA) for advocating for the PET coverage.

Livestrong

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing.