Colon Cancer State Rankings

(CBS)  Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for men and women in this country, killing nearly 50,000 people annually.

But when detected early, it can be successfully treated the vast majority of the time.

The results of the 2009 Colorectal Cancer Screening Legislation Report Card were recently released. CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports that for the first time since it was first issued six years ago, the report shows that more states have received an A than a failing grade for their colon cancer screening laws. Twenty-one states, plus D.C., got an A, and 19 have gotten an F.

And what a difference a grade can make.

Sixty-year-old Catherine Murray-Rust plays tennis, goes ballroom dancing, and has even run two marathons since Moving to Atlanta last summer. But now, she's been on a different kind of marathon -- one that's a lot more grueling.

"It changes your perspective on life significantly," Murray-Rust said. "Every day becomes much more important to you."

Back in Colorado in 2006, she wanted to get a routine colonoscopy, which is generally recommended starting at age 50. She called her insurance company.

"I asked if they would cover a colonoscopy and they asked me whether it was preventative or diagnostic," Murray-Rust said. "I said it was preventative. And they said, 'in which case, we won't pay for it.'"

She delayed the $3,000 test. Then last August, when she moved to Atlanta to head up the Georgia Tech University library, she decided she'd waited long enough.

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How Does Your State Rank?: Check out the report card on efforts to pass laws requiring insurers to cover colon cancer screening.

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"It probably was a bad thing that I held out quite so long," Murray-Rust said.

She was happy to learn that the same company that denied coverage in Colorado would pay for the exam in Georgia - but the results were devastating.

"When they did the surgery on January 5, the pathology report from that surgery confirmed that I had early Stage 3 colon cancer," she said.

What was the life or death difference between Georgia and Colorado?

Georgia, which received an A in the colon cancer report card, has a law requiring that insurance companies pay for the most comprehensive colon cancer screening. States receiving an F have no requirements, which should make their residents ask questions.

"Why do I live in a state that doesn't allow me standard of care, providing colon cancer screening, which we know not only saves money, but more importantly saves lives?," said Dr. David A. Johnson, professor of medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School, of the questions that residents in F states should ask.

Murray-Rust's cancer spread to two of her lymph nodes, and now she's getting chemotherapy.

"It's extremely difficult for one's health and for one's family," she said. "It's a hard thing, especially as 90 percent of colon cancers can be prevented if you catch them early.

On a bittersweet note, Colorado became an A state this year, which means an insurance company must cover a colonoscopy if a doctor orders one.

[helenth01]

The people are loosing their moral while becoming modern. The society needs to be attentive that moral value. Well, it shocking and needed and immediate attention to short out at the earlier.
======================
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[legacyabq]

This is BS insurnce companies are a business.. If you want them to pay for every test someone thinks of they'd go broke.. Get a doctor to order it, dont call tem up yourself.. I mean DUH..

And, if you want good insurance, read the fine print and get a plan that has the coverage you want..

My god americns are a pathetic whiney bunch ofknownothings

[rhs648]

Buying health insurance isn't any more difficult than buying a new car. Every insurance company has literature, flyers, and brochures that explain what is and what isn't covered. All you have to do is compare policies between different companies. You then decide on a plan based on the premium you are willing to pay and the benefits you want. With new cars, everyone pays a different price according to your negotiating abilities. Some people pay the full price while others pay varying prices as they to bargain with the salesperson. To add spice, perhaps insurance companies should do the same thing.

[rhs648]

The decision to tested for colorectal cancer via colonoscopy or flex sigmoidoscopy should be made by a physician and patient. An insurance company should have absolutely nothing to do with this decision. It is unfortunate that most of medicine these days is governed by insurance companies. This is a good example of why a national single payer program is so important. When there are screening tests or programs that obviously save lives then they need to be done without insurance company interference.

You apparently have little or no experience with a national single pay program. My father had medicare while he was alive. Medicaire is a single pay program of the United States government. for people over 65. Just like all of the private health plans, there are plenty of restrictions. There are limits on what is covered and who is eligible for certain procedures. For example, after my father had a stroke, medicare would only pay for three physical therapy sessions. At that time, prescriptions were not covered. Further, not all doctors accepted medicare. On the other hand, before my father retired, his private plan payed for anything the doctors felt were medically necessary and all of his prescriptions.

[DocMultz]

This is a cancer that could have been prevented by removal of a suspicious polyp or at least diagnosed and treated early. She is now on chemotherapy. At best it is a difficult treatment for the patient and an expensive one for the insurance company.

Healthcare decisions should be made at the bedside, not in the boardroom.

Healthcare in America is too expensive and of inferior quality because it is uncoordinated, and wastefully mismanaged by administrators who neither know nor care about treating patients. Corporate profits and shareholder dividends siphon the funds needed to treat the uninsured. We spent $1.34 trillion on healthcare in 2004 and $1.9 trillion in 2006 and $2.1 trillion in 2008. This is projected to double to $4.1 trillion in 10 years. More than 30% of that money (at least $700 Billion) is wasted on inefficient administration. And decisions about what specialist you can see or what treatment you can have are made by bottom-liner business people. Now with the influence of President Obama, interest is rising on healthcare reform. That is certainly good, but nearly every plan uses the insurance industry with competition as the vehicle for delivery of care. That is a tragic mistake. It maintains the source of our high costs and reduced quality. It keeps the costs that are sinking the ship and adds further $billions in expenses to cover the uninsured. There is another way that is simple, that uses techniques and methods already tried and in use, but that saves $Billions while it provides universal coverage. And it is uniquely American. See www.GoodMedicineAmerica.com or American Medicine MisManaged Care (**********) or call 1800 800 9111 for info. And tell your Gov Reps.

[missingamerica]

Nice map, CBS.

Someday, CBS, you need to publish nice color maps of both the major industries' (finance, Wall Street, insurance, oil, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, unions, etc.) "campaign contributions" to federal, state, and local elected officials as well as their physical "presence" in the individual states so that America can correlate between them and maps such as the one you include in this article.

Americans are pretty bright; having that information readily available would go far to enlighten our voters...and with computers and a list of "Show me!" buttons on a web page...

[brainteaser2]

The decision to tested for colorectal cancer via colonoscopy or flex sigmoidoscopy should be made by a physician and patient. An insurance company should have absolutely nothing to do with this decision. It is unfortunate that most of medicine these days is governed by insurance companies. This is a good example of why a national single payer program is so important. When there are screening tests or programs that obviously save lives then they need to be done without insurance company interference.

[VTPatriot]

Why do humans think they should be entitled to live forever?
Not natures plan. One dies one born.

Go ahead hate me it doesn?t change the facts. Just makes you realize them.

PEACE TO ALL

[labrat9999]

I think this is absolutely rediculous!! Insurance companiey shouldn't be allowed sell policies that are called "medical insurance". Like any other type of product we buy there ought to be some truth in advertising laws, and labeling. Call it what it is "Breast Cancer Insurance", "Blood Test Insurance". This crap about insurance companies being able to put together policies that reduce the risk to them, trick the customer into thinking they might have insurance coverage, is just a crime.

[mom3204]

How dare that Doctor on CBS say, that if you have blood in the stool, you have cancer. What is wrong with him? He should retract his statement, he had to have scared most anyone who is waiting for a colonscopy ( including myself ) half to death himself. His statement was cruel and not right to say.