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There is nothing quite like preventing the ushering of a paradigm shift than blocking the reimbursement of a new innovation.

Ironically, at the same time we are seeing evidence that endoscopy is not as effective as previously believed and mounting evidence that virtual colonoscopy is superior in safety and diagnosis, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) pulls its head out of the sand, ignoring recent evidence, to announce that CT colonography will remain uncovered.

The CMS misdecision, amazingly backward and ill timed, implies that a number of innovative companies who provide CT colonography and supportive vendors, like Medicsight, will continue to struggle to increase volume of patients treated as before. The ultimate loser in this misdecision are the patients, especially those 60% or more who are on Medicare and also are most in need of proper diagnosis of colorectal cancer will now be stuck with endoscopy and all its short coming both in terms of safety and poor diagnosis.

The likelihood that there will be no near term change in CMS policy on reimbursement certainly is a disappointment to the radiology community who are forward looking and seeing promise in CT colonography. Nonetheless, no change is just that …no change … and certainly no reason to panic. Evidence of the superiority of CT colonography will continue to mount until CMS is forced to cover reimbursement out of pure embarrassment at their failure to serve the community of ill patients. Shame on the CMS, what a disgrace to human service.