Virtual colonoscopy: A storm is brewing

• Published in: Applied radiology (1976) Vol. 37; no. 11; pp. 12 - 16
• Main Author: Vining, David J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotch Plains Anderson Publishing Ltd 01.11.2008
• Subjects: Colonoscopy; Colorectal cancer; Gastroenterology; Tomography
• ISSN: 1879-2898; 0160-9963; 1879-2898
• DOI: 10.37549/AR1665

After years of bashing VC as not being good enough and requiring more clinical data, the Future Trends Committee of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) published a report in October 2006 stating that they see the handwriting on the wall.7 This Committee proposed that gastroenterologists should position themselves to play a role in performing and interpreting VC, including advocating for CPT codes in the 91000 series that will allow gastroenterologists to be reimbursed for interpreting and providing VC services, as well as developing specialized training and training requirements for those interested in performing VC interpretation. In an effort to make good on its promise, the AGA published a set of guidelines in 2007 listing the minimum requirements that a gastroenterologist must satisfy in order to become certified to read VC examinations.8 Battle lines are drawn Currently the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approve reimbursement for VC only when it follows a failed "diagnostic" colonoscopy, not a failed "screening" colonoscopy (Figure 2).9 Following the inclusion of VC in the American Cancer Society's screening guidelines, CMS launched a National Coverage Analysis for Screening Computed Tomography Colonography for Colorectal Cancer (CAG-00396N) in May 2008.