Latest news with #U.S.PreventiveServicesTaskForce
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Colorectal cancer screening rates rise sharply among adults aged 45 to 49
Colorectal cancer screening uptake increases following guideline shift Recent research indicates a sharp rise in colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45 to 49 following updates to national screening guidelines. The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports a 62% increase in colorectal cancer screening rates from 2019 to 2023 in this age group, leading to earlier detection of the disease. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program The change comes after the ACS recommended in 2018 that adults at average colorectal cancer risk begin screening at age 45 instead of 50. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force adopted the same recommendation in 2021, prompting widespread insurance coverage and influencing primary care practices. 'It's thrilling to see this,' said Rebecca Siegel, an epidemiologist at the ACS and an author of the new research. 'It means fewer deaths and higher quality of life for people who are diagnosed.' Newly published studies in the Journal of the American Medical Association highlight how the updated guidelines are contributing to higher screening rates and increased detection of early-stage colorectal cancer, when treatment is more effective and less intensive. Live Events Early-stage colorectal cancer diagnoses rise significantly The ACS reports that early-stage colorectal cancer diagnoses among adults aged 45 to 49 rose by 50% from 2021 to 2022. This trend marks a shift in outcomes for a population that historically faced later-stage diagnoses due to limited screening access. Data also show that colorectal cancer incidence among adults aged 45 to 49 increased at a 12% annual rate between 2019 and 2022, compared to about 1% annually from 2004 to 2019. Experts attribute this shift primarily to improved screening availability and utilization, though a post-Covid rebound in healthcare visits may also play a role. Caitlin Murphy, a cancer epidemiologist at the University of Chicago, said the trend resembles earlier improvements seen in older adults. 'Ultimately, the goal of screening is to reduce mortality, and we haven't seen that quite yet, simply because not enough time has gone by.' Barriers persist despite improvements in colorectal cancer screening While colorectal cancer screening has improved overall, disparities remain. Screening rates among uninsured individuals and those with less than a high school education in the 45 to 49 age group have not significantly changed. Screening rates for this age group also remain lower than for those aged 50 and older. A colonoscopy remains the preferred screening method, with up-to-date usage rising from 20% in 2019 to 28% in 2023 among adults aged 45 to 49. Non-invasive stool-based tests that detect blood or DNA changes also saw a rise in use, increasing from 1.3% to 7.1% over the same period. In a trial involving over 20,000 people aged 45 to 49, researchers found that screening uptake increased when individuals were automatically mailed stool tests rather than asked if they wanted to be screened. However, overall participation remained low, at just 19%. 'We probably shouldn't be wasting time asking patients first; we should send them what they need,' said Dr. Folasade May, the trial's senior author and a gastroenterologist at the University of California, Los Angeles. 'We have a long way to go.' Colorectal cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death among men under 50. Researchers continue to investigate factors such as diet, lifestyle, and environmental exposure that may contribute to rising colorectal cancer rates in younger populations. 'I have patients in their 20s in my practice that would never fit the guidelines,' said Dr. Michael Cecchini, a medical oncologist at Yale Cancer Center. 'We need to be thinking about it on our list of possible diagnoses.' Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
The Hill
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hill
RFK Jr. ‘reviewing' ouster of preventive task force members
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday he is 'reviewing' whether to remove all members of an influential advisory committee that offers guidance about preventive health services. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is composed of medical experts who serve four-year terms on a volunteer basis. They are appointed by the HHS secretary and are supposed to be shielded from political influence. The task force reviews reams of scientific evidence to make recommendations on services such as cancer screenings, HIV prevention medications and more. It makes its recommendations using a grading scale, and ObamaCare requires insurers to cover services the task force recommends with a 'grade' of A or B at no cost to patients. The Wall Street Journal first reported late last month that Kennedy was considering firing the panelists because they were too 'woke.' During a press conference about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Kennedy did not deny that removing the members of the task force was under consideration. 'The task force has done very little over the past five years, and we want to make sure it is performing, and it is approving interventions that are actually going to prevent the health decline of the American public. And it hasn't,' he said. 'We're looking at the personnel and we're making the decision now, but no decision has been made.' Kennedy's office abruptly postponed the July meeting of the task force, alarming some Democrats and public health leaders. The discussion on removing the entire task force comes on the heels of a Supreme Court decision in June originally focused on a recommendation to cover certain HIV-prevention drugs. The ruling asserted Kennedy has the power to hire and dismiss panelists at will, as well as to potentially delay or veto the recommendations they issue — something no prior administration has done.
Business Wire
7 days ago
- Health
- Business Wire
Exact Sciences and Humana Expand Colorectal Cancer Screening Partnership with Cologuard Plus™ Test
MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Exact Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ: EXAS), a leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, today announced an expanded partnership with Humana Inc. to enhance access to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Through the partnership, the Cologuard Plus™ test will be available as an in-network service for eligible Humana Medicare Advantage members nationwide beginning in August 2025. Humana, the fourth largest private insurer in the United States, has approximately 5.8 million Medicare Advantage members. 'The Exact Sciences team is proud to expand access to Cologuard Plus through our collaboration with Humana, making it easier for more people to access this revolutionary, non-invasive colorectal cancer screening test from the comfort of home,' said Jake Orville, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Screening. 'This agreement reflects our shared commitment to removing barriers for patients and advancing earlier detection, when treatment is most effective.' Cologuard Plus, which launched in March 2025, has received FDA approval, Medicare coverage, and inclusion in the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines. About the Cologuard ® and Cologuard Plus ™ tests Developed in collaboration with Mayo Clinic, the Cologuard ® and Cologuard Plus ™ tests are first-line, noninvasive colorectal cancer (CRC) screening options for adults aged 45 or older who are at average risk for the disease. The Cologuard test revolutionized CRC screening by detecting specific DNA markers and blood in stool associated with cancer and precancer, allowing patients to complete the collection kit at home without special preparation or time off, and return the kit to the lab for results. It is included in national screening guidelines from the American Cancer Society (2018) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2021). Since its inception in 2014, Cologuard has been used to screen for more CRC 20 million times. Building on this success, the FDA-approved Cologuard Plus test raises the performance bar even further and features novel biomarkers, improved laboratory processes, and enhanced sample stability. The Cologuard Plus test is expected to reduce false positives by more than 40% compared to the original Cologuard test, helping minimize unnecessary follow-up colonoscopies. Both tests demonstrate Exact Sciences' commitment to improving CRC screening access and outcomes. About Exact Sciences A leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, Exact Sciences helps patients and health care providers make timely, informed decisions before, during, and after a cancer diagnosis. The company's growing portfolio includes well-established brands such as Cologuard® and Oncotype DX®, along with innovative solutions like Oncodetect™ for molecular residual disease and recurrence monitoring. Exact Sciences continues to invest in a robust pipeline of advanced cancer diagnostics aimed at improving outcomes. For more information, visit follow @ExactSciences on X, or connect on LinkedIn and Facebook. NOTE: Exact Sciences, Cologuard, and Cologuard Plus are trademarks of Exact Sciences Corporation. The Cologuard test and Cologuard Plus test are only available in the U.S. Forward-Looking Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements concerning our expectations, anticipations, intentions, beliefs, or strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that we have made as of the date hereof and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, conditions and events to differ materially from those anticipated. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the development and commercialization of the Cologuard Plus test and the performance characteristics and health care benefits of the Cologuard Plus test in a commercial setting, as well as statements regarding the development and commercialization of Exact Sciences' pipeline tests. Risks and uncertainties that may affect our forward-looking statements are described in the Risk Factors sections of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and in our other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Kennedy could soon reconstruct US preventive care panel
Washington: U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could imminently overhaul a key federal advisory panel that recommends which preventive services insurers must pay for, health and medical news website STAT News reported on Tuesday, citing a person familiar with the plans. Federal health officials are vetting new members for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force , the report said. It also cited David Mansdoerfer, who advises a group allied with Kennedy, as saying he knew people being considered for the panel but that he declined to name them. Mansdoerfer, who served during President Donald Trump's first administration as deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services, later told Reuters that he knew "a couple" of those being considered. He added that he was not actively involved in the process, which he said could take from a few weeks to two or three months. The Office of the White House Liaison at HHS is in charge of the vetting, said Mansdoerfer, now the chief strategy adviser to the Independent Medical Alliance, a group of physicians allied with Kennedy. This was also the case with candidates for advisory committees during his time at the department, he said. Asked if the people he knew of who were under consideration were physicians, Mansdoerfer said they were all clinical health professionals. He had earlier told STAT that the existing panel was "MD heavy" and that the reorganized one was likely to include other kinds of healthcare providers. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Kennedy planned to remove all of the panel's 16 members. An HHS spokesperson said Kennedy had not yet made a decision. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force includes medical experts serving staggered four-year terms on a volunteer basis. Its role in choosing what services will be covered by insurers was established under the 2010 Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The 40-year-old group, whose recommendations provide guidance to doctors, looks at everything from routine screenings for breast cancer to drugs to prevent HIV infection.
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Kennedy could soon reconstruct US preventive care panel, STAT News reports
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could imminently overhaul a key federal advisory panel that recommends which preventive services insurers must pay for, health and medical news website STAT News reported on Tuesday, citing a person familiar with the plans. Federal health officials are vetting new members for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the report said. It also cited David Mansdoerfer, who advises a group allied with Kennedy, as saying he knew people being considered for the panel but that he declined to name them. Mansdoerfer, who served during President Donald Trump's first administration as deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services, later told Reuters that he knew "a couple" of those being considered. He added that he was not actively involved in the process, which he said could take from a few weeks to two or three months. The Office of the White House Liaison at HHS is in charge of the vetting, said Mansdoerfer, now the chief strategy adviser to the Independent Medical Alliance, a group of physicians allied with Kennedy. This was also the case with candidates for advisory committees during his time at the department, he said. Asked if the people he knew of who were under consideration were physicians, Mansdoerfer said they were all clinical health professionals. He had earlier told STAT that the existing panel was "MD heavy" and that the reorganized one was likely to include other kinds of healthcare providers. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Kennedy planned to remove all of the panel's 16 members. An HHS spokesperson said Kennedy had not yet made a decision. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force includes medical experts serving staggered four-year terms on a volunteer basis. Its role in choosing what services will be covered by insurers was established under the 2010 Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The 40-year-old group, whose recommendations provide guidance to doctors, looks at everything from routine screenings for breast cancer to drugs to prevent HIV infection. Solve the daily Crossword
