In March 2021, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated their guidelines for lung cancer screening with low-dose CT (LDCT).^[1]Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Screening for lung cancer with low dose computed tomography (LDCT) [Internet]. Baltimore (MD): CMS.gov; 2022 [updated 10 February 2022]. Available from: … Continue reading The starting age for screening was lowered from 55 years to 50 years, and the tobacco smoking history threshold was lowered from 30 pack-years to 20 pack-years. The USPSTF’s recommended upper age limit for screening remained unchanged at 80 years. These parameters were incorporated into Carelon guidelines in May 2021.

On February 10, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced an update to the national coverage determination (NCD) for lung cancer screening with LDCT, adopting these same starting age and smoking history parameters.^[2]Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Screening for lung cancer with low dose computed tomography (LDCT) [Internet]. Baltimore (MD): CMS.gov; 2022 [updated 10 February 2022]. Available from: … Continue reading The upper age limit per the NCD eligibility criteria (77 years) remains unchanged.

All Medicare requests for LDCT for lung cancer screening will continue to be reviewed against current NCD eligibility criteria and will therefore reflect the updated parameters above.

Krist AH, Davidson KW, Mangione CM, et al. Screening for lung cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Jama. 2021;325(10):962-70.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Screening for lung cancer with low dose computed tomography (LDCT) [Internet]. Baltimore (MD): CMS.gov; 2022 [updated 10 February 2022]. Available from: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/ncacal-decision-memo.aspx?proposed=N&ncaid=304.