Understanding your patients’ differences is lifesaving

Colorectal cancer is the most common cause of cancer death among Asian Americans¹, while African Americans are 40% more likely to die from the disease than any other racial or ethnic group² in the United States. There are many possible reasons for the differences in survival rates among these racial and ethnic groups, but the common thread between them both is screening. For African Americans and Asian Americans, the reluctance could be cultural. They may not be as likely to ask about the screenings as their White counterparts.

 

Resources to help talk to patients about colorectal cancer screening

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website is an excellent resource for information about colorectal cancer that you can share with your patients. There is even a quiz to help your patients understand the importance of screening as a prevention.

 

We’ve also developed two videos for you to play in your patient waiting room, share with patients in the exam room, or share the link through your digital schedulers.

 

Colorectal Screening for Asian Americans
Colorectal cancer screening for African Americans

 

Measure up: HEDIS ® measures members ages 50–75 who receive the appropriate screening for colorectal cancer.

There are multiple test types that meet the requirement:

• Screening colonoscopy every 10 years
• Screening flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
• Computed tomography (CT) colonography every 5 years
• Screening fecal occult blood test (FOBT) annually
• FIT DNA (i.e., Cologuard®) at home testing every 3 years

 

Coding Tips

For screening, use the appropriate code:

 

Screening	Commonly used billing codes
Flexible sigmoidoscopy	CPT: 45330–45335, 45337–45342, 45346, 45347, 45349, 45350 HCPC: G0104
FIT-DNA (i.e., Cologuard®)	CPT: 81528
Occult blood test (FOBT, FIT, guaiac)	CPT: 82270, 82274 HCPC: G0328
Colonoscopy	CPT: 44388–44394, 44401–44408, 45378–45386, 45398, 45388–45693 HCPC: G0105, G0121
CT Colonography	CPT: 74261, 74262

 

For exclusions, use the appropriate ICD-10 code:

 

ICD-10	Description
Z85.038	Personal history of other malignant neoplasm of large intestine
Z85.048	Personal history of other malignant neoplasm of rectum, rectosigmoid junction and anus
Z51.5	Encounter palliative care

 

HEDIS® is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)

 

1 “Colorectal cancer in the United States and a review of its heterogeneity among Asian American subgroups”, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ajco.13324#:~:text=Colorectal%20cancer%20is%20the%20second,common%20in%20the%20%20United%20States

 

2 “Colorectal Cancer Rates Higher in African Americans, Rising in Younger People”, https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/ectal-cancer-rates-higher-in-african-americans-rising-in-younger-people.html
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