Colon Health Centers of America, provider of CT colonography (CTC) services for gastroenterology specialists, has signed a contract with a major commercial payor to reimburse for screening CTC.

This arrangement represents the first major commercial payor to reimburse screening CTC in the US, and the first commercial payor to do so outside of Madison, Wisconsin.

This contract enables the opening of the first community-based, integrated Colon Health Center in the nation on Sept. 2, 2008, bringing together the convenience and safety of a non-invasive, sedation-free CTC with the opportunity for a same-day, same-prep, therapeutic colonoscopy for those with discovered polyps.

The contracted payor has agreed to reimburse CHC America's Patent-pending, Integrated Screening Model-CTC followed by therapeutic colonoscopy for those with discovered polyps-and is providing a single, bundled, episode-of-care payment 'per screening event'. The payor believes that it is essential to have the capability to provide same-day, same-prep therapeutic colonoscopy for patients who need it.

The GI client-owners of this first ever Colon Health Center are the pioneers of community-based GIs with respect to this new model. The names of the GI group and payor will be released in August.