Our Shield™ blood test gains FDA approval, ushering in a new era of colorectal cancer screening.  More details

The Future of Colon Cancer Screening is Here.

Rack of test tubes with blood.

What if $3 million could help protect 84 million Americans?

84 million Americans are ages 45-641 – eligible for colon cancer screening but not yet qualified for Medicare. CRC screening rates remain stagnant and low with current screening modalities2. Without a ~$3 million increase in funding for the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)* these individuals could face an out-of-pocket expense for a new blood-based screening test once approved by the FDA – anticipated as early as 2024||.

Cancer screening tests recommended by USPSTF are provided at no cost to the individual. With more funding the USPSTF can update its recommendations so that patients have access to new screening tools without delay.

The USPSTF Lacks the Resources to Keep Pace with Science

The USPSTF aims to review and update existing recommendations every five years, but science sometimes moves faster.

The Task Force is under-resourced and underfunded. With rapid developments in biomedical innovation, the current pace of USPSTF updates could limit adoption of new screening technologies.

The USPSTF Needs More Funding Now

Additional funding can help ensure there is no delay in blood-based CRC screening tests reaching the patients who need them.

The Agency for Health Care Quality and Research (AHRQ)† has repeatedly stated that with additional funding, they could support the Task Force in modifying its processes to keep up with new technologies and changing evidence. More resources could mean more reviews each year.

The President’s latest Budget Proposal‡ included increased funding for USPSTF, but Congress still needs to act.

Additional Resources

Resources to Learn More

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*The USPSTF is an independent advisory body that issues evidence-based recommendations for preventive services. Cancer screenings that receive an A or B grade from the Task Force are covered with $0 cost-sharing for insured patients.
||Shield™ is a qualitative laboratory-developed test intended to detect colorectal cancer, currently under review for FDA approval.
¶Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) NCD 210.3, Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests, includes coverage for blood-based biomarker tests that meet certain performance characteristics
†The Agency for Health Care Quality and Research (AHRQ) provides support for the USPSTF.
‡President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal included $18.0 million for AHRQ for its administration of the USPSTF, an increase of $6.5 million over the FY2023 enacted level.
References 1. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/colorectal-cancer-screening 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cost-effectiveness of colorectal cancer interventions. Updated August 18, 2021. Accessed December 7, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/programs-impact/pop/colorectal-cancer.htm
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