Medicare Advisers Say No to Lung Cancer Screening

A panel for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid determined that annual low-dose CT screening for lung cancer carries too high a risk related to the potential benefits.  They expressed concern about high false-positive rates, quality assurance, and gaps in evidence as to how the CT results would be used.  Despite the fact that many professional groups have recommended screening, there is now concern that screening will not be approved for coverage at the vote scheduled for November 2014.