NCD210.1

 

PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING TESTS

 

Effective Date of this Version

6/19/2006

 

Benefit Category

• Prostate Cancer Screening Tests.

• Note: This may not be an exhaustive list of all applicable Medicare benefit categories for this item or service.

 

Indications and Limitations of Coverage

 

General

• Section 4103 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 provides for coverage of certain prostate cancer screening tests subject to certain coverage, frequency, and payment limitations.

• Medicare will cover prostate cancer screening tests/procedures for the early detection of prostate cancer.

• Coverage of prostate cancer screening tests includes the following procedures furnished to an individual for the early detection of prostate cancer:

o Screening digital rectal examination; and

o Screening prostate specific antigen blood test

 

Screening Digital Rectal Examinations

• Screening digital rectal examinations are covered at a frequency of once every 12 months for men who have attained age 50 (at least 11 months have passed following the month in which the last Medicare-covered screening digital rectal examination was performed).

• Screening digital rectal examination means a clinical examination of an individual's prostate for nodules or other abnormalities of the prostate.

• This screening must be performed by a doctor of medicine or osteopathy (as defined in §1861(r)(1) of the Act), or by a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or certified nurse midwife (as defined in §1861(aa) and §1861(gg) of the Act) who is authorized under State law to perform the examination, fully knowledgeable about the beneficiary's medical condition, and would be responsible for using the results of any examination performed in the overall management of the beneficiary's specific medical problem.

 

Screening Prostate Specific Antigen Tests

• Screening prostate specific antigen tests are covered at a frequency of once every 12 months for men who have attained age 50 (at least 11 months have passed following the month in which the last Medicare-covered screening prostate specific antigen test was performed).

• Screening prostate specific antigen tests (PSA) means a test to detect the marker for adenocarcinoma of prostate. PSA is a reliable immunocytochemical marker for primary and metastatic adenocarcinoma of prostate.

• This screening must be ordered by the beneficiary's physician or by the beneficiary's physician assistant, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or certified nurse midwife (the term "attending physician" is defined in §1861(r)(1) of the Act to mean a doctor of medicine or osteopathy and the terms "physician assistant, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or certified nurse midwife" are defined in §1861(aa) and §1861(gg) of the Act) who is fully knowledgeable about the beneficiary's medical condition, and who would be responsible for using the results of any examination (test) performed in the overall management of the beneficiary's specific medical problem.

 

Coverage Transmittal Link

• http://www.cms.gov/transmittals/downloads/R48NCD.pdf

 

Other Versions

• Prostate Cancer Screening Tests - Version 1, Effective between 1/1/2000 - 6/19/2006

 

Medicare NCD Link