NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Exact Sciences announced today that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued an updated evidence of coverage notice affirming that Medicare Advantage plans must include coverage of the company's Cologuard colon cancer test every three years without patient coinsurance, copayments, or deductibles.
"The CMS update assures patients and physicians that Cologuard is covered by Medicare Advantage plans without any out-of-pocket costs," Exact Chairman and CEO Kevin Conroy said in a statement.
Cologuard, which was approved by US regulators in 2014, gauges altered DNA in stool associated with colon cancer or precancer risk. Earlier this year, the test was included in updated colorectal cancer screening recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
Conroy added that the CMS update is also notable because it recognizes that Cologuard is an A-graded preventive service under the new USPSTF guidelines. "CMS requires Medicare Advantage plans to cover A-graded services without patient cost sharing," he noted.