Prostate Cancer Screenings
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Did you know that the average age at the time of diagnosis is about 66? About one in every 41 men will die of prostate cancer. The good news is that although prostate cancer is a serious disease, most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it. You can access the American Cancer Society for Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer to learn more about this type of cancer.
Discuss prostate cancer screenings with your patients and which may be appropriate for them. Medicare provides coverage for Digital Rectal Exams (DREs) and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests once every 12 months for all male beneficiaries aged 50 and older.
Review the CMS MLN Prostate Cancer Awareness Month article (PDF, 78 KB) for information on free educational products related to Medicare-covered prostate cancer screenings.
This document was developed through the A/B Medicare Administrative Contractor Provider Outreach & Education Collaboration Team. This joint effort ensures consistent communication and education throughout the nation on a variety of topics and will assist the provider and physician community with information necessary to submit claims appropriately and receive proper payment in a timely manner.