Colorectal Cancer Screening Coverage

The effective date for coverage of colorectal cancer screening starting at age 45 has been changed. Please refer to the updated article.

The United States Preventive Services Taskforce (USPSTF) has revised the colorectal cancer screening guideline, dropping the eligible screening age from 50 years old to 45 years old to allow for earlier screenings of younger populations.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) will cover colorectal cancer screenings starting at age 45 effective June 1, 2022.

For full details on current claims submission, please see the Health Care Reform Preventive Services Coding Guide (PDF).  As we get closer to the effective date of June 1, 2022, the coding guide will be revised to reflect this change.