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View Public Comments for Screening Computed Tomography Colonography (CTC) for Colorectal Cancer

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[103 Comments]
Page 1 of 5
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First character of titleCommenterComment Information
A
ABRAHAM, C Date: 05/23/2008
Comment:

- CTC should NOT be approved.

- There are multiple published studies indicating that it is an INFERIOR test compared to visual colonoscopy - it has missed polyps and it has missed colon cancers also when compared to visual colonoscopy.

- The More opens in new window

A
Adduci, Alexander Title: MD, PhD
Organization: Scottsdale Medical Imaging
Date: 05/23/2008
Comment:

I would strongly urge Medicare to initiate reimbursement for CT
colonography. Results of the national multicenter CTC trial (ACRIN
6664) have shown that this an effective screening tool. Adding an
effective screening tool only More opens in new window

A
Agrawal, Jaya Title: Physician
Organization: Brigham and Women''s Hospital
Date: 06/10/2008
Comment:

To whom it may concern,

As a fellow in gastroenterology, I have used CTC in the evaluation of patients who have failed or difficult colonoscopies for a variety of indications and have found it useful. I also think it is an excellent tool for More opens in new window

A
Ahluwal, S Date: 06/11/2008
Comment:

CTC should NOT be approved as a standard
screening test for colorectal cancer.
This is an appropriate test for patients who have
failed conventional colonoscopy, and it should be
approved in those settings but it must not be More opens in new window

A
Andersen, M.D., Garrett Karl Date: 06/11/2008
Comment:

To Whom It May Concern:

I fully support virtual colonoscopy. According to what I have read, Virtual Colonoscopy has been clinically proven to be as effective as optical colonoscopy, the current gold standard, in several major studies. More opens in new window

A
Anderson, Jr., MS, RPh, Ernest Title: President
Organization: Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC)
Date: 06/18/2008
Comment:

DRAFT CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENT

June 18, 2008

BY ELECTRONIC DELIVERY

William Larson, MA
Lead Analyst
Coverage and Analysis Group
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
7500 Security More opens in new window
A
Arenson, Ronald Title: Chairman and Professor, Department of Radiology
Organization: UCSF
Date: 06/18/2008
Comment:

As Chair of Radiology at the University of California, San Francisco I am submitting my opinion that CT Colonography for colorectal carcinoma screening should be fully covered by CMS. CTC has evolved to become a test that is now shown by More opens in new window

A
Arite, Joe Title: Policy and Grassroots Manager
Organization: C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition
Date: 06/17/2008
Comment:

C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition’s Comments Regarding National Coverage Analysis for CT-Colonography These comments are submitted on behalf of C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition (C3), a non-profit, nonpartisan advocacy organization that is More opens in new window

B
barnett, sol Title: M.D.
Organization: n/a
Date: 06/11/2008
Comment:

CTC for many different reasons in the correct
setting is a very valuable tool for screening and
surveillance and should be utilized. In my
particular case I have an "impossible" colon to
navigate and am at high risk and it would More opens in new window

b
Baumel, MD, MS, Mark Title: CEO
Organization: Colon Health Centers of America, LLC
Date: 06/13/2008
Comment:

I strongly urge CMS to initiate national coverage for Virtual Colonoscopy (VC). However, I believe that the only appropriate way to provide VC is in the setting of a comprehensive colorectal cancer screening process, i.e., VC with the More opens in new window

b
Bell, Jr., Paul L. Date: 05/28/2008
Comment:

To Whom It May Concern:

I fully support virtual colonoscopy. According to what I have read, Virtual Colonoscopy has been clinically proven to be as effective as optical colonoscopy, the current gold standard, in several major More opens in new window

b
Bocchino, Carmella Title: EVP, Clinical Affairs and Strategic Planning
Organization: America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)
Date: 06/18/2008
Comment:

June 18, 2008

Steve Phurrough, MD, MPA
Director, Coverage and Analysis Group
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Mail Stop C1-09-06
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland More opens in new window
b
Bond, William Date: 05/20/2008
Comment:

[PHI redacted] I strongly feel that it must be approved as a screening tool. It is non-invasive and has proven to be as sensetive as optical in
detecting potentially cancerous polyps. It far exceeds the other "screening" More opens in new window

b
Brady, Patrick Date: 05/22/2008
Comment:

I do not believe that CTC screening for colon cancer is ready for widespread application. Although some of the studies show good results, there is a great deal of inconsistency in the sensitivity of this test in detecting colon lesions when all More opens in new window

C
Cash, Brooks Title: Chief, GI and Colon Health Initiative
Organization: National Naval Medical Center
Date: 06/03/2008
Comment:

The fact that CMS has initiated a national
coverage analysis (NCA) for CT colonography
(CTC) screening indicates that there is a
growing realization of the value of this test as
a screening modality for CRC and I More opens in new window

C
Casson, Holly Title: Clinical Program Coordinator-Virtual Colonoscopy
Organization: Univirsity of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics
Date: 06/11/2008
Comment:

To Whom It May Concern:

According to an overview on colorectal cancer screening found on the CMS website: "Medicare has covered colorectal cancer screening tests and procedures since 1998, but use of this benefit has been low. Medicare claims More opens in new window

C
Chang, Kevin Title: Assistant Professor
Organization: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Date: 05/29/2008
Comment:

I strongly urge CMS to add CT colonography (CTC) as a screening option for colorectal cancer. For more than a decade now abundant research has been performed and CT techniques have evolved to the point where CTC, as it is now performed today, More opens in new window

C
chintalapani, sreenivas Date: 06/11/2008
Comment:

i think it would be nice for this procedure to be
covered by cms. even though it is seen as another
layer( diagnostic only) of testing but better
than a barium enema some would benefit from its
inclusion, may be replace Barium More opens in new window

C
Chun, Andrew Date: 05/22/2008
Comment:

CTC should not be used as a standard screening
test for colorectal cancer. This is an
appropriate test for patients who have failed
conventional colonoscopy, but should not be
widely applied to the general public. More opens in new window

C
Clary, Sharlene Title: RT (R) (CT) (M) (MR) BS
Organization: ARRT
Date: 05/21/2008
Comment:

Besides limiting the chance of bowel perforation,
CTC is more thorough, hands down. There is an
image that can be reviewed multiple times that is
not subject to Dr skill with scope. There is not
sedation required that can put More opens in new window

C
Costanzo, MD, Ronald Date: 05/31/2008
Comment:

I have interpreted over 150 virtual colonoscopy cases and have discovered many clinically significant polyps in asymptomatic patients that have undergone incomplete optical colonoscopy. I have also had cases where incomplete optical colonoscopy More opens in new window

C
Cullen, Priscilla Date: 06/17/2008
Comment:

I work at NNMC and have been scheduling patients
for and assisting in completion of virtual
colonoscopies since Oct/04 - our patients like
having a 20 minute appointment that clears them
for 5 years. If they are on More opens in new window

D
Davis, Michael Title: President
Organization: Synergy Consulting Group, Ltd.
Date: 06/18/2008
Comment:

I am strongly in favor of CMS extending coverage
to CTC for the simplest of reasons; all comments
from patients or family members of patients were
very positive in their opinion of CTC. Optical
colonoscopy has been the gold More opens in new window

D
Draganosky, Diane Date: 06/03/2008
Comment:

May 28, 2008

Ref:  CAG-00396N

Dear Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):

I fully support virtual colonoscopy screening for colon cancer.  According to my research and readings, virtual More opens in new window

E
Everaert, Liana Title: Outpatient Radiology Consultant
Date: 05/27/2008
Comment:

The cost effectiveness of adopting CTC as a Colorectal Ca screening tool is an important consideration when compared to the higher costs of optical colonoscopy. CTC has an increased patient acceptance that will in the long term lead to more More opens in new window

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