I
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3710
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve patient access
to, and utilization of, the colorectal cancer screening benefit under the
Medicare Program.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 8, 2002
Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. ENGLISH, Mr. BOUCHER, Mr. TOWNS, Mr.
PLATTS, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. CLEMENT, Mr. WAMP, Mr. PORTMAN, Mr.
GILLMOR, Mr. GREEN of Texas, and Mr. ENGEL) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a pe-
riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con-
sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve
patient access to, and utilization of, the colorectal cancer
screening benefit under the Medicare Program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Colon Cancer Screen
for Life Act of 2002’’.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) colorectal cancer screening tests (as defined
in section 1861(pp) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395x(pp)) covered under the medicare pro-
gram have been severely underutilized, with the
Comptroller General of the United States reporting
in 2000 that since coverage of such tests was imple-
mented, the percentage of beneficiaries under the
medicare program receiving either a screening or a
diagnostic colonoscopy has increased by only 1 per-
cent;
(2) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Serv-
ices should encourage health care providers to use
more effective screening and diagnostic health care
technologies in the area of colorectal cancer screen-
ing;
(3) in recent years, the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services has subjected colorectal cancer
screening tests to some of the largest reimbursement
reductions under the medicare program;
(4) unlike other preventive screening tests cov-
ered under the medicare program, health care pro-
viders must consult with beneficiaries prior to fur-
nishing a screening colonoscopy in order to—
(A) ascertain the medical and family his-
tory of the beneficiary; and
(B) inform the beneficiary of preparatory
steps that must be taken prior to the procedure;
and
(5) reimbursement under the medicare program
is not currently available for the consultations de-
scribed in paragraph (4) despite the fact that reim-
bursement is provided under such program for simi-
lar consultations prior to a diagnostic colonoscopy.
SEC. 3. INCREASE IN REIMBURSEMENT FOR COLORECTAL
CANCER 
SCREENING 
AND 
DIAGNOSTIC
TESTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1834(d) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(d)) is amended by adding
at the end the following new paragraph:
‘‘(4) ENHANCED
PAYMENT
FOR
COLORECTAL
CANCER SCREENING AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTS.—
‘‘(A) 
NONFACILITY
RATES.—Notwith-
standing paragraphs (2)(A) and (3)(A), the
Secretary shall establish national minimum pay-
ment amounts for CPT codes 45330, 45378,
45380, 45385 and HCPCS codes GO104,
GO105, GO106, GO107, GO120, and GO121
for items and services furnished during the last
6 months of 2002 and in subsequent years
which reflect a 10 percent increase above the
relative value units in effect as the nonfacility
rates for such codes in 2001, with such revised
payment level to apply to items and services
performed in a nonfacility setting, provided,
however, that such setting is consistent with
quality care, sound medical judgment, and pre-
vention of potential complications.
‘‘(B) FACILITY
RATES.—Notwithstanding
paragraphs (2)(A) and (3)(A), the Secretary
shall establish national minimum payment
amounts for CPT codes 45330, 45378, 45380,
45385 and HCPCS codes GO104, GO105,
GO106, GO107, GO120, and GO121 for items
and services furnished during the last 6 months
of 2002 and in subsequent years which reflect
a 30 percent increase above the relative value
units in effect as the facility rates for such
codes in 2001, with such revised payment level
to apply to items and services performed in a
facility setting.
‘‘(C) ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS.—In the case
of items and services furnished on or after Jan-
uary 1, 2003, the payment rates described in