FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Medicare Makes Preventive Screens Free
(March 1, 2011, Oklahoma City, Ok) -- March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality (OFMQ) reminds people that routine screenings can save lives. Colorectal cancer, or cancer of the colon, is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States. Screening can help prevent cancer or detect it early when it can be treated.
Starting in 2011, Medicare now covers copayments and deductibles for colorectal cancer screens and other preventive services. For many people, this means the cost of certain screens may be free.
“A routine screen can find warning signs of cancer so we can catch it in its earliest stages,” said Kent Towsley, M.D., principal clinical coordinator for OFMQ. “We encourage people, especially those at higher risk, to take advantage of preventive services covered under Medicare. The first easy step for anyone is to talk to your doctor about screening choices,” Towsley said.
For more on preventive services covered by Medicare, including coverage criteria, visit www.healthcare.gov and search for preventive services.
For more information about colorectal cancer, visit the Prevent Cancer Foundation at www.preventcancer.org.
###
About Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality
Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality (OFMQ) is an Oklahoma City-based not-for-profit consulting organization dedicated to improving health care and improving lives. For nearly 40 years, OFMQ has played an integral role in ensuring quality medical services for Oklahomans through health care review, quality improvement and health information technology consulting and public education. We contribute expertise and resources to support national quality improvement initiatives, including health care policy and payment decisions. Our major contracts are funded through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as part of Medicare’s Quality Improvement Organization program and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, through the Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center program.