Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1094308
52 GASTROENTEROLOGY Blood-based CRC test detects adenomas with 90% accuracy — 4 insights By Eric Oliver CellMax Life's blood-based cancer detecting test can detect adenomas with close to 90 percent accuracy and cancer at 95 percent accuracy. What you should know: 1. Researchers administered the test to 737 adults, 50-years or older. About 301 were healthy, 111 had adenomas and 325 were confirmed to have cancer. Researchers confirmed the cancer diagnosis by colonoscopy or tumor biopsy. 2. CellMax will present the study confirming the blood test's accuracy at the ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium, Jan. 17-19 in San Francisco. 3. Researchers also discovered that an increase in cell count, was significantly correlated with an increase in disease severity. 4. CellMax Life did not elaborate on what regulatory steps it would pursue next. n Here's what CMS pays for 10 gastroenterology procedures By Eric Oliver C MS released a procedure price look- up tool to provide consumers a view the average payment for common procedures in ASCs and hospital outpatient departments. e tool includes the national average payments to HOPDs and ASCs, as well as the average copay Medicare beneficiaries without supplemental insurance would pay in both settings. Here's the average total cost for 10 common gastroenterology procedures: 1. Colonoscopy, flexible; with biopsy, single or multiple (45380) ASC: $488 HOPD: $936 2. Colonoscopy, flexible; with removal of tumor(s), polyp(s), or other lesion(s) by snare technique (45385) ASC: $488 HOPD: $936 3. Colonoscopy, flexible; diagnostic, includ- ing collection of specimen(s) by brushing or washing, when performed (separate procedure) (45378) ASC: $370 HOPD: $710 3. Cancer screening of the colon (large bowel) using an endoscope (colonoscopy) for high-risk individuals (G0105) ASC: $370 HOPD: $710 4. Colonoscopy, flexible; with endoscopic mucosal resection (45390) ASC: $488 HOPD: $936 5. Sigmoidoscopy, flexible; with biopsy, single or multiple (45331) ASC: $370 HOPD: $710 6. Sigmoidoscopy, flexible; with removal of tumor(s), polyp(s), or other lesion(s) by snare technique (45338) ASC: $488 HOPD: $936 7. Ultrasound examination of esophagus, stomach and/or upper small bowel using an endoscope (43259) ASC: $627 HOPD: $1,427 8. Diagnostic examination of esophagus, stomach and/or upper small bowel using an endoscope (43235) ASC: $387 HOPD: $743 9. Biopsy of the esophagus, stomach and/ or upper small bowel using an endoscope (43239) ASC: $387 HOPD: $743 10. Control of bleeding of esophagus, stomach and/or upper small bowel using an endoscope (43255) ASC: $627 HOPD: $1,427 n