Society News

If you’ve ever wondered about the content creation process that goes into exam study material, SEEK is offering you an insider perspective.

Recently added to the SEEK Library, CHEST SEEK^™ Peer Review Discussions are behind-the-scenes recordings of the deliberations and debates between SEEK Editorial Board members as they review their draft questions. Each video showcases CHEST authors reviewing and finessing a case-based chest medicine question to prepare for its inclusion in printed SEEK books and the electronic library.

With an opportunity to glean invaluable knowledge from distinguished practitioners in the pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine fields, SEEK Peer Review Discussions can be used to help supplement board exam study, advance one’s clinical knowledge, and learn from the peer review process for their own professional development.

“The opportunity to observe how much critical review there is from a scientific content standpoint – and also from a test creation standpoint – is really interesting,” said CHEST SEEK Sleep Editor and President-Elect David Schulman, MD, MPH, FCCP.

“Many of us on SEEK have written for some of the standardized exams that readers will take,” he said. “Somebody can learn how writers come up with wrong answers and think, ‘‘If I can see how this test is constructed, I may have a better chance of doing well on it.’”

SEEK Peer Review Discussions not only offer a more engaging form of education but also provide an opportunity to watch leaders in the field test, challenge, and collaborate with one another.

“The audience gets to see that these big names you see on the page – authors, coauthors, and editors – are just normal people like anybody else,” Dr. Schulman said. “They joke around a little bit, and they push each other a little bit. I think getting to see under the hood of CHEST and seeing what leadership is like is a really valuable experience.”

Through these discussions, CHEST SEEK learners discover the intensity and rigorousness of the conversations with a window into CHEST leaders’ discourse.

The collection of SEEK Peer Review Discussions is part of the new, enhanced CHEST SEEK subscription option, SEEK Library Plus. Available for subscription viewing now are three question videos from the SEEK Pulmonary Medicine Editorial Board and three question videos from the SEEK Sleep Medicine Editorial Board.

Subscribers to SEEK Library Plus also gain access to SEEK Session videos from CHEST Board Review 2021, a print export study pack plus a compilation of favorite questions from SEEK’s 30-year history.

For a sneak peek of the peer review videos and to subscribe to SEEK Library Plus, visit seeklibrary.chestnet.org.

If you’ve ever wondered about the content creation process that goes into exam study material, SEEK is offering you an insider perspective.

Recently added to the SEEK Library, CHEST SEEK^™ Peer Review Discussions are behind-the-scenes recordings of the deliberations and debates between SEEK Editorial Board members as they review their draft questions. Each video showcases CHEST authors reviewing and finessing a case-based chest medicine question to prepare for its inclusion in printed SEEK books and the electronic library.

With an opportunity to glean invaluable knowledge from distinguished practitioners in the pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine fields, SEEK Peer Review Discussions can be used to help supplement board exam study, advance one’s clinical knowledge, and learn from the peer review process for their own professional development.

“The opportunity to observe how much critical review there is from a scientific content standpoint – and also from a test creation standpoint – is really interesting,” said CHEST SEEK Sleep Editor and President-Elect David Schulman, MD, MPH, FCCP.

“Many of us on SEEK have written for some of the standardized exams that readers will take,” he said. “Somebody can learn how writers come up with wrong answers and think, ‘‘If I can see how this test is constructed, I may have a better chance of doing well on it.’”

SEEK Peer Review Discussions not only offer a more engaging form of education but also provide an opportunity to watch leaders in the field test, challenge, and collaborate with one another.

“The audience gets to see that these big names you see on the page – authors, coauthors, and editors – are just normal people like anybody else,” Dr. Schulman said. “They joke around a little bit, and they push each other a little bit. I think getting to see under the hood of CHEST and seeing what leadership is like is a really valuable experience.”

Through these discussions, CHEST SEEK learners discover the intensity and rigorousness of the conversations with a window into CHEST leaders’ discourse.

The collection of SEEK Peer Review Discussions is part of the new, enhanced CHEST SEEK subscription option, SEEK Library Plus. Available for subscription viewing now are three question videos from the SEEK Pulmonary Medicine Editorial Board and three question videos from the SEEK Sleep Medicine Editorial Board.

Subscribers to SEEK Library Plus also gain access to SEEK Session videos from CHEST Board Review 2021, a print export study pack plus a compilation of favorite questions from SEEK’s 30-year history.

For a sneak peek of the peer review videos and to subscribe to SEEK Library Plus, visit seeklibrary.chestnet.org.

If you’ve ever wondered about the content creation process that goes into exam study material, SEEK is offering you an insider perspective.

Recently added to the SEEK Library, CHEST SEEK^™ Peer Review Discussions are behind-the-scenes recordings of the deliberations and debates between SEEK Editorial Board members as they review their draft questions. Each video showcases CHEST authors reviewing and finessing a case-based chest medicine question to prepare for its inclusion in printed SEEK books and the electronic library.

With an opportunity to glean invaluable knowledge from distinguished practitioners in the pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine fields, SEEK Peer Review Discussions can be used to help supplement board exam study, advance one’s clinical knowledge, and learn from the peer review process for their own professional development.

“The opportunity to observe how much critical review there is from a scientific content standpoint – and also from a test creation standpoint – is really interesting,” said CHEST SEEK Sleep Editor and President-Elect David Schulman, MD, MPH, FCCP.

“Many of us on SEEK have written for some of the standardized exams that readers will take,” he said. “Somebody can learn how writers come up with wrong answers and think, ‘‘If I can see how this test is constructed, I may have a better chance of doing well on it.’”

SEEK Peer Review Discussions not only offer a more engaging form of education but also provide an opportunity to watch leaders in the field test, challenge, and collaborate with one another.

“The audience gets to see that these big names you see on the page – authors, coauthors, and editors – are just normal people like anybody else,” Dr. Schulman said. “They joke around a little bit, and they push each other a little bit. I think getting to see under the hood of CHEST and seeing what leadership is like is a really valuable experience.”

Through these discussions, CHEST SEEK learners discover the intensity and rigorousness of the conversations with a window into CHEST leaders’ discourse.

The collection of SEEK Peer Review Discussions is part of the new, enhanced CHEST SEEK subscription option, SEEK Library Plus. Available for subscription viewing now are three question videos from the SEEK Pulmonary Medicine Editorial Board and three question videos from the SEEK Sleep Medicine Editorial Board.

Subscribers to SEEK Library Plus also gain access to SEEK Session videos from CHEST Board Review 2021, a print export study pack plus a compilation of favorite questions from SEEK’s 30-year history.

For a sneak peek of the peer review videos and to subscribe to SEEK Library Plus, visit seeklibrary.chestnet.org.

Fertility and pregnancy in cystic fibrosis By Dr. M. Shteinberg, et al.Changes in purchases for intensive care medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic: A global time series study By Dr. K. Kim, et al.The impact of obesity in critical illness By Drs. M.R. Anderson and M. Shashaty



Strategies to improve bedside clinical skills teaching By Drs. B. Garibaldi and S.W. RussellAntithrombotic therapy for VTE Disease: Second update of the CHEST guideline and expert panel report – executive summary By Dr. S.M. Stevens, et al.

Fertility and pregnancy in cystic fibrosis By Dr. M. Shteinberg, et al.Changes in purchases for intensive care medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic: A global time series study By Dr. K. Kim, et al.The impact of obesity in critical illness By Drs. M.R. Anderson and M. Shashaty



Strategies to improve bedside clinical skills teaching By Drs. B. Garibaldi and S.W. RussellAntithrombotic therapy for VTE Disease: Second update of the CHEST guideline and expert panel report – executive summary By Dr. S.M. Stevens, et al.

Fertility and pregnancy in cystic fibrosis By Dr. M. Shteinberg, et al.Changes in purchases for intensive care medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic: A global time series study By Dr. K. Kim, et al.The impact of obesity in critical illness By Drs. M.R. Anderson and M. Shashaty



Strategies to improve bedside clinical skills teaching By Drs. B. Garibaldi and S.W. RussellAntithrombotic therapy for VTE Disease: Second update of the CHEST guideline and expert panel report – executive summary By Dr. S.M. Stevens, et al.

Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org) to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses. Here’s a preview of a recent popular clinical discussion:  

Robert Herman, MD, wrote in “Rectal lesion”:

A 42-year-old healthy female was seen by me for symptoms of non-ulcer dyspepsia that was unresponsive to H2 Blockers and for assessment for screening colonoscopy. Her father had developed colon cancer at the age of 50. She denied changes in bowel habits, pattern, rectal bleeding, or melena. An EGD revealed a medium sized hiatal hernia and LA Grade B esophagitis that responded well to an OTC PPI qd.

A colonoscopy was performed and revealed a 4-cm anterior rectal “bulge” just above the hemorrhoidal plexus, appearing somewhat firm and mobile on probing the lesion with a closed biopsy forceps, and a 1 cm sessile IC valve adenomatous polyp.

And then the endoscopic medical assistant made a comment that changed everything. Read the full case discussion: https://community.gastro.org/posts/25568.
 

Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org) to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses. Here’s a preview of a recent popular clinical discussion:  

Robert Herman, MD, wrote in “Rectal lesion”:

A 42-year-old healthy female was seen by me for symptoms of non-ulcer dyspepsia that was unresponsive to H2 Blockers and for assessment for screening colonoscopy. Her father had developed colon cancer at the age of 50. She denied changes in bowel habits, pattern, rectal bleeding, or melena. An EGD revealed a medium sized hiatal hernia and LA Grade B esophagitis that responded well to an OTC PPI qd.

A colonoscopy was performed and revealed a 4-cm anterior rectal “bulge” just above the hemorrhoidal plexus, appearing somewhat firm and mobile on probing the lesion with a closed biopsy forceps, and a 1 cm sessile IC valve adenomatous polyp.

And then the endoscopic medical assistant made a comment that changed everything. Read the full case discussion: https://community.gastro.org/posts/25568.
 

Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org) to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses. Here’s a preview of a recent popular clinical discussion:  

Robert Herman, MD, wrote in “Rectal lesion”:

A 42-year-old healthy female was seen by me for symptoms of non-ulcer dyspepsia that was unresponsive to H2 Blockers and for assessment for screening colonoscopy. Her father had developed colon cancer at the age of 50. She denied changes in bowel habits, pattern, rectal bleeding, or melena. An EGD revealed a medium sized hiatal hernia and LA Grade B esophagitis that responded well to an OTC PPI qd.

A colonoscopy was performed and revealed a 4-cm anterior rectal “bulge” just above the hemorrhoidal plexus, appearing somewhat firm and mobile on probing the lesion with a closed biopsy forceps, and a 1 cm sessile IC valve adenomatous polyp.

And then the endoscopic medical assistant made a comment that changed everything. Read the full case discussion: https://community.gastro.org/posts/25568.
 

Patients with cirrhosis, or permanent liver damage, are at higher risk for coagulation disorders, which impact your body’s ability to control blood clotting. This puts cirrhosis patients at increased risk of morbidity and mortality when undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic invasive procedures. AGA has released new clinical guidelines to change how you identify and treat coagulation disorders in patients with cirrhosis. In this new guidance, AGA recommends against the use of extensive preprocedural testing to estimate clotting in patients with cirrhosis. These guidelines, which were developed after a detailed review of available literature, are published in Gastroenterology, AGA’s official journal.

Key guideline recommendations:

• Extensive preprocedural testing, including measurements of prothrombin time/international normalized ratio or platelet count, should not routinely be performed in patients with stable cirrhosis undergoing common GI procedures.
• Blood products, including fresh frozen plasma or platelet transfusion, should not routinely be used for bleeding prophylaxis in patients with stable cirrhosis undergoing common GI procedures.
• Standard pharmacologic venous thromboembolism prophylaxis should be given to hospitalized patients with cirrhosis like other medical patients.
• Anticoagulation should be used to treat acute or subacute nontumoral portal vein thrombosis in patients with cirrhosis to improve patient outcomes.

Learn more in the AGA GI Patient Center. Read the AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Coagulation Disorders in Patients with Cirrhosis to review the complete recommendations.

Patients with cirrhosis, or permanent liver damage, are at higher risk for coagulation disorders, which impact your body’s ability to control blood clotting. This puts cirrhosis patients at increased risk of morbidity and mortality when undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic invasive procedures. AGA has released new clinical guidelines to change how you identify and treat coagulation disorders in patients with cirrhosis. In this new guidance, AGA recommends against the use of extensive preprocedural testing to estimate clotting in patients with cirrhosis. These guidelines, which were developed after a detailed review of available literature, are published in Gastroenterology, AGA’s official journal.

Key guideline recommendations:

• Extensive preprocedural testing, including measurements of prothrombin time/international normalized ratio or platelet count, should not routinely be performed in patients with stable cirrhosis undergoing common GI procedures.
• Blood products, including fresh frozen plasma or platelet transfusion, should not routinely be used for bleeding prophylaxis in patients with stable cirrhosis undergoing common GI procedures.
• Standard pharmacologic venous thromboembolism prophylaxis should be given to hospitalized patients with cirrhosis like other medical patients.
• Anticoagulation should be used to treat acute or subacute nontumoral portal vein thrombosis in patients with cirrhosis to improve patient outcomes.

Learn more in the AGA GI Patient Center. Read the AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Coagulation Disorders in Patients with Cirrhosis to review the complete recommendations.

Patients with cirrhosis, or permanent liver damage, are at higher risk for coagulation disorders, which impact your body’s ability to control blood clotting. This puts cirrhosis patients at increased risk of morbidity and mortality when undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic invasive procedures. AGA has released new clinical guidelines to change how you identify and treat coagulation disorders in patients with cirrhosis. In this new guidance, AGA recommends against the use of extensive preprocedural testing to estimate clotting in patients with cirrhosis. These guidelines, which were developed after a detailed review of available literature, are published in Gastroenterology, AGA’s official journal.

Key guideline recommendations:

• Extensive preprocedural testing, including measurements of prothrombin time/international normalized ratio or platelet count, should not routinely be performed in patients with stable cirrhosis undergoing common GI procedures.
• Blood products, including fresh frozen plasma or platelet transfusion, should not routinely be used for bleeding prophylaxis in patients with stable cirrhosis undergoing common GI procedures.
• Standard pharmacologic venous thromboembolism prophylaxis should be given to hospitalized patients with cirrhosis like other medical patients.
• Anticoagulation should be used to treat acute or subacute nontumoral portal vein thrombosis in patients with cirrhosis to improve patient outcomes.

Learn more in the AGA GI Patient Center. Read the AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Coagulation Disorders in Patients with Cirrhosis to review the complete recommendations.

2022 Medicare payment rules contain both good and bad news for GI. First the bad news: GIs and other specialties face millions of dollars in cuts as Medicare finalized a 3.71% cut to the Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor, which could increase to near 9% if Congress doesn’t act.

Here are highlights from the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Hospital Outpatient Department (HOPD)/Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) final rules.

Good news

• Telehealth reimbursement continues through December 2023.
• Medicare coverage changes from the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act were finalized and coinsurance reduction will start Jan. 1, 2022, with full phase out by 2030.

Bad news

• A 3.71% cut to MPFS 2022 conversion factor, which could result in a up to 9% cut to our practices. Email your lawmaker now.
• HOPD and ASC conversion factors will increase 2% for those that meet applicable quality reporting requirements.
• New MPFS payments for peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) and some capsule endoscopy CPT codes not as high as expected.

2022 Medicare payment rules contain both good and bad news for GI. First the bad news: GIs and other specialties face millions of dollars in cuts as Medicare finalized a 3.71% cut to the Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor, which could increase to near 9% if Congress doesn’t act.

Here are highlights from the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Hospital Outpatient Department (HOPD)/Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) final rules.

Good news

• Telehealth reimbursement continues through December 2023.
• Medicare coverage changes from the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act were finalized and coinsurance reduction will start Jan. 1, 2022, with full phase out by 2030.

Bad news

• A 3.71% cut to MPFS 2022 conversion factor, which could result in a up to 9% cut to our practices. Email your lawmaker now.
• HOPD and ASC conversion factors will increase 2% for those that meet applicable quality reporting requirements.
• New MPFS payments for peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) and some capsule endoscopy CPT codes not as high as expected.

2022 Medicare payment rules contain both good and bad news for GI. First the bad news: GIs and other specialties face millions of dollars in cuts as Medicare finalized a 3.71% cut to the Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor, which could increase to near 9% if Congress doesn’t act.

Here are highlights from the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Hospital Outpatient Department (HOPD)/Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) final rules.

Good news

• Telehealth reimbursement continues through December 2023.
• Medicare coverage changes from the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act were finalized and coinsurance reduction will start Jan. 1, 2022, with full phase out by 2030.

Bad news

• A 3.71% cut to MPFS 2022 conversion factor, which could result in a up to 9% cut to our practices. Email your lawmaker now.
• HOPD and ASC conversion factors will increase 2% for those that meet applicable quality reporting requirements.
• New MPFS payments for peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) and some capsule endoscopy CPT codes not as high as expected.

Creating a stronger voice for CHEST members in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, CHEST works to provide opportunities for members to serve as expert sources for both mainstream and trade media.

Below are a few highlights of media coverage from the past few months that work to expand awareness of CHEST and to promote the expertise of CHEST members in the media.
 

The New York Times covers the Philips recall

In August, a New York Times article published quoting incoming CHEST President, David Schulman, MD, MPH, FCCP. The article covered the recent Philips recall and its impact on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Schulman is quoted saying, “Because the number of people coming into the hospital with severe respiratory symptoms has increased as a result of COVID-19, the demand for these devices has also increased, which is problematic since available supply has decreased as a result of the Philips recall.”

The full article, Breathing Machine Recall Over Possible Cancer Risk Leaves Millions Scrambling for Substitutes, can be found on the New York Times website.
 

Technical expert panel on coverage determinations

Peter Gay, MD, FCCP, was quoted in an article by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News on the recent technical expert panel recommendations for national coverage determinations for optimal noninvasive ventilation.

“Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services was wanting rigorous scientific support necessary to clarify the ‘reasonable and necessary’ role of these new mechanical therapeutic modalities where there was none in order to move forward,” said Dr. Gay. “What we have done is create a pathway to simplify the maze of regulation and perhaps most importantly, remove the obstacles that currently exist.”

The full article, Panel on Non-Invasive Ventilation Seeks to Simplify ‘Maze’ of Regulation for Device Coverage, can be found on the McKnight’s Long-Term Care News website.
 

Asthma and HRT

Originally appearing in HealthDay, U.S. News and World Report covered a recent journal CHEST^® publication Hormone Replacement Therapy and Development of New Asthma by Erik Soeren Halvard Hansen, MD, et al.

The study included about 34,500 women who were diagnosed with asthma between 1995 and 2018, when they were 40 to 65 years of age. Each was then compared with 10 asthma-free women.

Based on that comparison, HRT use was associated with a 63% higher risk for developing asthma, according to the study.

The full article, HRT Could Raise Odds for Asthma, can be found on the U.S. News & World Report website.
 

Pediatric ICU admission and COVID-19

Healio Pulmonology covered a recent journal CHEST publication, Changes in Pediatric ICU Utilization and Clinical Trends During the Coronavirus Pandemic, by Janine E. Zee-Cheng, MD, et al.

“Severe infections, traumatic injuries, perioperative conditions and acute exacerbations of chronic illnesses such as asthma and diabetes are among the most common causes of admission to a pediatric ICU; thus, the epidemiology of pediatric critical illness was likely sensitive to the indirect effects of COVID-19,” Janine E. Zee-Cheng, MD, adjunct clinical assistant professor of pediatrics in the department of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, and colleagues wrote.

The full article, Pediatric ICU admissions significantly decreased during COVID-19 pandemic, can be found on the Healio website.
 

CHEST news

CHEST also recently issued a handful of statements and press releases on a variety of topics including the spread of misinformation, support of mandatory vaccinations for health care workers, and a statement advocating for broader coverage of supplemental oxygen use.

For all recent CHEST News, including these statements, visit the CHEST Newsroom on the CHEST website and follow the hashtag #CHESTNews on Twitter.

If you have been included in a recent news article and would like it to be featured, send the coverage to [email protected].

Creating a stronger voice for CHEST members in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, CHEST works to provide opportunities for members to serve as expert sources for both mainstream and trade media.

Below are a few highlights of media coverage from the past few months that work to expand awareness of CHEST and to promote the expertise of CHEST members in the media.
 

The New York Times covers the Philips recall

In August, a New York Times article published quoting incoming CHEST President, David Schulman, MD, MPH, FCCP. The article covered the recent Philips recall and its impact on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Schulman is quoted saying, “Because the number of people coming into the hospital with severe respiratory symptoms has increased as a result of COVID-19, the demand for these devices has also increased, which is problematic since available supply has decreased as a result of the Philips recall.”

The full article, Breathing Machine Recall Over Possible Cancer Risk Leaves Millions Scrambling for Substitutes, can be found on the New York Times website.
 

Technical expert panel on coverage determinations

Peter Gay, MD, FCCP, was quoted in an article by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News on the recent technical expert panel recommendations for national coverage determinations for optimal noninvasive ventilation.

“Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services was wanting rigorous scientific support necessary to clarify the ‘reasonable and necessary’ role of these new mechanical therapeutic modalities where there was none in order to move forward,” said Dr. Gay. “What we have done is create a pathway to simplify the maze of regulation and perhaps most importantly, remove the obstacles that currently exist.”

The full article, Panel on Non-Invasive Ventilation Seeks to Simplify ‘Maze’ of Regulation for Device Coverage, can be found on the McKnight’s Long-Term Care News website.
 

Asthma and HRT

Originally appearing in HealthDay, U.S. News and World Report covered a recent journal CHEST^® publication Hormone Replacement Therapy and Development of New Asthma by Erik Soeren Halvard Hansen, MD, et al.

The study included about 34,500 women who were diagnosed with asthma between 1995 and 2018, when they were 40 to 65 years of age. Each was then compared with 10 asthma-free women.

Based on that comparison, HRT use was associated with a 63% higher risk for developing asthma, according to the study.

The full article, HRT Could Raise Odds for Asthma, can be found on the U.S. News & World Report website.
 

Pediatric ICU admission and COVID-19

Healio Pulmonology covered a recent journal CHEST publication, Changes in Pediatric ICU Utilization and Clinical Trends During the Coronavirus Pandemic, by Janine E. Zee-Cheng, MD, et al.

“Severe infections, traumatic injuries, perioperative conditions and acute exacerbations of chronic illnesses such as asthma and diabetes are among the most common causes of admission to a pediatric ICU; thus, the epidemiology of pediatric critical illness was likely sensitive to the indirect effects of COVID-19,” Janine E. Zee-Cheng, MD, adjunct clinical assistant professor of pediatrics in the department of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, and colleagues wrote.

The full article, Pediatric ICU admissions significantly decreased during COVID-19 pandemic, can be found on the Healio website.
 

CHEST news

CHEST also recently issued a handful of statements and press releases on a variety of topics including the spread of misinformation, support of mandatory vaccinations for health care workers, and a statement advocating for broader coverage of supplemental oxygen use.

For all recent CHEST News, including these statements, visit the CHEST Newsroom on the CHEST website and follow the hashtag #CHESTNews on Twitter.

If you have been included in a recent news article and would like it to be featured, send the coverage to [email protected].

Creating a stronger voice for CHEST members in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, CHEST works to provide opportunities for members to serve as expert sources for both mainstream and trade media.

Below are a few highlights of media coverage from the past few months that work to expand awareness of CHEST and to promote the expertise of CHEST members in the media.
 

The New York Times covers the Philips recall

In August, a New York Times article published quoting incoming CHEST President, David Schulman, MD, MPH, FCCP. The article covered the recent Philips recall and its impact on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Schulman is quoted saying, “Because the number of people coming into the hospital with severe respiratory symptoms has increased as a result of COVID-19, the demand for these devices has also increased, which is problematic since available supply has decreased as a result of the Philips recall.”

The full article, Breathing Machine Recall Over Possible Cancer Risk Leaves Millions Scrambling for Substitutes, can be found on the New York Times website.
 

Technical expert panel on coverage determinations

Peter Gay, MD, FCCP, was quoted in an article by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News on the recent technical expert panel recommendations for national coverage determinations for optimal noninvasive ventilation.

“Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services was wanting rigorous scientific support necessary to clarify the ‘reasonable and necessary’ role of these new mechanical therapeutic modalities where there was none in order to move forward,” said Dr. Gay. “What we have done is create a pathway to simplify the maze of regulation and perhaps most importantly, remove the obstacles that currently exist.”

The full article, Panel on Non-Invasive Ventilation Seeks to Simplify ‘Maze’ of Regulation for Device Coverage, can be found on the McKnight’s Long-Term Care News website.
 

Asthma and HRT

Originally appearing in HealthDay, U.S. News and World Report covered a recent journal CHEST^® publication Hormone Replacement Therapy and Development of New Asthma by Erik Soeren Halvard Hansen, MD, et al.

The study included about 34,500 women who were diagnosed with asthma between 1995 and 2018, when they were 40 to 65 years of age. Each was then compared with 10 asthma-free women.

Based on that comparison, HRT use was associated with a 63% higher risk for developing asthma, according to the study.

The full article, HRT Could Raise Odds for Asthma, can be found on the U.S. News & World Report website.
 

Pediatric ICU admission and COVID-19

Healio Pulmonology covered a recent journal CHEST publication, Changes in Pediatric ICU Utilization and Clinical Trends During the Coronavirus Pandemic, by Janine E. Zee-Cheng, MD, et al.

“Severe infections, traumatic injuries, perioperative conditions and acute exacerbations of chronic illnesses such as asthma and diabetes are among the most common causes of admission to a pediatric ICU; thus, the epidemiology of pediatric critical illness was likely sensitive to the indirect effects of COVID-19,” Janine E. Zee-Cheng, MD, adjunct clinical assistant professor of pediatrics in the department of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, and colleagues wrote.

The full article, Pediatric ICU admissions significantly decreased during COVID-19 pandemic, can be found on the Healio website.
 

CHEST news

CHEST also recently issued a handful of statements and press releases on a variety of topics including the spread of misinformation, support of mandatory vaccinations for health care workers, and a statement advocating for broader coverage of supplemental oxygen use.

For all recent CHEST News, including these statements, visit the CHEST Newsroom on the CHEST website and follow the hashtag #CHESTNews on Twitter.

If you have been included in a recent news article and would like it to be featured, send the coverage to [email protected].

(This post is part of Our Life as a Fellow blog post series. This series includes “fellow life lessons” from current trainees in leadership with CHEST.)

Finding your passion in fellowship is an integral part of career development and has a profound impact on a young professional’s personal satisfaction. This can be a difficult task, but it can be accomplished by finding a mentor, thinking about long-term career goals, and considering what re-energizes you. Entering fellowship, some may have a preconceived idea of who they would like to be upon completion of training: An asthma specialist, a physician-scientist, a critical care junkie, etc. For most of us, fellowship is a black box of opportunity with endless paths and permutations. It can be difficult to navigate this landscape, as the path may meander and a few initial interests may develop into true passions.

During my fellowship, I have been fortunate to have had many great teachers and experiences caring for patients with pulmonary hypertension, my current primary focus. Here are a few steps I have taken in pursuit of finding my passion over the past several years of post-graduate medical education. ***Disclaimer: I am still a work in progress.***

First, find a mentor. For me it was easy – I remember interviewing for fellowship with my mentor and thinking: “That is who I want to be.” I think this is hugely important. Use the insights, mistakes, and successes of someone you admire (from near or far) to help guide you. Initially, while getting to know my mentor, it was more comfortable to follow from a safe distance without making an official commitment. This was a slow process that allowed me to explore multiple clinical and research interests simultaneously. Once your mind is set, stating your professional interests in a concise way helps you and your mentor define and differentiate hobbies from passions. The practice of medicine is still very much an apprenticeship, so having someone to act as a sounding board remains important. Mentorship is also critical for networking, which is important for professional growth and life beyond fellowship. Our community is small, and “people know people.” What happens if you can’t find a perfect mentor? Don’t worry! Try out as many mentors as you can find. You can learn from every conversation and relationship. Sometimes the path taken is just as important as the destination.

Second, think about your 5- or 10-year plan. Ultimately, when training is over, we will graduate from fellowship and be released into the wild. The skills we have obtained in training are going to be the foundation for the rest of our careers. Where would you like to be a few years post-training? In a lab? Private practice? Rural medicine? Teaching? Does the energy you are spending in fellowship to develop your passion extend beyond fellowship? Part of the excitement of pursuing a passion is envisioning how it may develop over the period of coming years. I envision honing my skills as a master general pulmonary clinician and then narrowing my focus to create a pulmonary hypertension care center of excellence. I think these are important points to consider while you have the protected headspace of fellowship to experiment and explore, and while you are not constrained by contractual obligations.

Third, think about what personally and professionally energizes you. Especially in the context of an ongoing global pandemic, burnout and physician dissatisfaction are at an all-time high. Acknowledge that your job is tough, and try to identify the things that will keep the engine running. This sounds straightforward, but you have to decide what recharges you and acknowledge those things that don’t. The importance of determining things that energize me did not occur to me until I started searching for my first job. This forced me to make a list of things that contributed to my happiness and dissatisfaction. Most future employers are skilled at asking about these qualities. A happy employee is productive and effective at his or her job!

If you are in training, take some time to get creative and answer the questions above. Doodle, make lists, or journal—find a moment to reflect on your hard work and on the promise of your future.
 

Kevin Swiatek, DO

Dr. Swiatek is a third-year Chief Fellow in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Swiatek is a member of the CHEST Trainee Work Group. His clinical interests include general pulmonary medicine, care of patients with pulmonary hypertension, and using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) as a diagnostic tool in the medical intensive care unit. His scholarly interests include implementation of fellowship medical education, teaching POCUS, and clinical and diagnostic assessment of patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Reprinted from Thought Leader Blog. August 23, 2021. www.chestnet.org.

(This post is part of Our Life as a Fellow blog post series. This series includes “fellow life lessons” from current trainees in leadership with CHEST.)

Finding your passion in fellowship is an integral part of career development and has a profound impact on a young professional’s personal satisfaction. This can be a difficult task, but it can be accomplished by finding a mentor, thinking about long-term career goals, and considering what re-energizes you. Entering fellowship, some may have a preconceived idea of who they would like to be upon completion of training: An asthma specialist, a physician-scientist, a critical care junkie, etc. For most of us, fellowship is a black box of opportunity with endless paths and permutations. It can be difficult to navigate this landscape, as the path may meander and a few initial interests may develop into true passions.

During my fellowship, I have been fortunate to have had many great teachers and experiences caring for patients with pulmonary hypertension, my current primary focus. Here are a few steps I have taken in pursuit of finding my passion over the past several years of post-graduate medical education. ***Disclaimer: I am still a work in progress.***

First, find a mentor. For me it was easy – I remember interviewing for fellowship with my mentor and thinking: “That is who I want to be.” I think this is hugely important. Use the insights, mistakes, and successes of someone you admire (from near or far) to help guide you. Initially, while getting to know my mentor, it was more comfortable to follow from a safe distance without making an official commitment. This was a slow process that allowed me to explore multiple clinical and research interests simultaneously. Once your mind is set, stating your professional interests in a concise way helps you and your mentor define and differentiate hobbies from passions. The practice of medicine is still very much an apprenticeship, so having someone to act as a sounding board remains important. Mentorship is also critical for networking, which is important for professional growth and life beyond fellowship. Our community is small, and “people know people.” What happens if you can’t find a perfect mentor? Don’t worry! Try out as many mentors as you can find. You can learn from every conversation and relationship. Sometimes the path taken is just as important as the destination.

Second, think about your 5- or 10-year plan. Ultimately, when training is over, we will graduate from fellowship and be released into the wild. The skills we have obtained in training are going to be the foundation for the rest of our careers. Where would you like to be a few years post-training? In a lab? Private practice? Rural medicine? Teaching? Does the energy you are spending in fellowship to develop your passion extend beyond fellowship? Part of the excitement of pursuing a passion is envisioning how it may develop over the period of coming years. I envision honing my skills as a master general pulmonary clinician and then narrowing my focus to create a pulmonary hypertension care center of excellence. I think these are important points to consider while you have the protected headspace of fellowship to experiment and explore, and while you are not constrained by contractual obligations.

Third, think about what personally and professionally energizes you. Especially in the context of an ongoing global pandemic, burnout and physician dissatisfaction are at an all-time high. Acknowledge that your job is tough, and try to identify the things that will keep the engine running. This sounds straightforward, but you have to decide what recharges you and acknowledge those things that don’t. The importance of determining things that energize me did not occur to me until I started searching for my first job. This forced me to make a list of things that contributed to my happiness and dissatisfaction. Most future employers are skilled at asking about these qualities. A happy employee is productive and effective at his or her job!

If you are in training, take some time to get creative and answer the questions above. Doodle, make lists, or journal—find a moment to reflect on your hard work and on the promise of your future.
 

Kevin Swiatek, DO

Dr. Swiatek is a third-year Chief Fellow in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Swiatek is a member of the CHEST Trainee Work Group. His clinical interests include general pulmonary medicine, care of patients with pulmonary hypertension, and using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) as a diagnostic tool in the medical intensive care unit. His scholarly interests include implementation of fellowship medical education, teaching POCUS, and clinical and diagnostic assessment of patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Reprinted from Thought Leader Blog. August 23, 2021. www.chestnet.org.

(This post is part of Our Life as a Fellow blog post series. This series includes “fellow life lessons” from current trainees in leadership with CHEST.)

Finding your passion in fellowship is an integral part of career development and has a profound impact on a young professional’s personal satisfaction. This can be a difficult task, but it can be accomplished by finding a mentor, thinking about long-term career goals, and considering what re-energizes you. Entering fellowship, some may have a preconceived idea of who they would like to be upon completion of training: An asthma specialist, a physician-scientist, a critical care junkie, etc. For most of us, fellowship is a black box of opportunity with endless paths and permutations. It can be difficult to navigate this landscape, as the path may meander and a few initial interests may develop into true passions.

During my fellowship, I have been fortunate to have had many great teachers and experiences caring for patients with pulmonary hypertension, my current primary focus. Here are a few steps I have taken in pursuit of finding my passion over the past several years of post-graduate medical education. ***Disclaimer: I am still a work in progress.***

First, find a mentor. For me it was easy – I remember interviewing for fellowship with my mentor and thinking: “That is who I want to be.” I think this is hugely important. Use the insights, mistakes, and successes of someone you admire (from near or far) to help guide you. Initially, while getting to know my mentor, it was more comfortable to follow from a safe distance without making an official commitment. This was a slow process that allowed me to explore multiple clinical and research interests simultaneously. Once your mind is set, stating your professional interests in a concise way helps you and your mentor define and differentiate hobbies from passions. The practice of medicine is still very much an apprenticeship, so having someone to act as a sounding board remains important. Mentorship is also critical for networking, which is important for professional growth and life beyond fellowship. Our community is small, and “people know people.” What happens if you can’t find a perfect mentor? Don’t worry! Try out as many mentors as you can find. You can learn from every conversation and relationship. Sometimes the path taken is just as important as the destination.

Second, think about your 5- or 10-year plan. Ultimately, when training is over, we will graduate from fellowship and be released into the wild. The skills we have obtained in training are going to be the foundation for the rest of our careers. Where would you like to be a few years post-training? In a lab? Private practice? Rural medicine? Teaching? Does the energy you are spending in fellowship to develop your passion extend beyond fellowship? Part of the excitement of pursuing a passion is envisioning how it may develop over the period of coming years. I envision honing my skills as a master general pulmonary clinician and then narrowing my focus to create a pulmonary hypertension care center of excellence. I think these are important points to consider while you have the protected headspace of fellowship to experiment and explore, and while you are not constrained by contractual obligations.

Third, think about what personally and professionally energizes you. Especially in the context of an ongoing global pandemic, burnout and physician dissatisfaction are at an all-time high. Acknowledge that your job is tough, and try to identify the things that will keep the engine running. This sounds straightforward, but you have to decide what recharges you and acknowledge those things that don’t. The importance of determining things that energize me did not occur to me until I started searching for my first job. This forced me to make a list of things that contributed to my happiness and dissatisfaction. Most future employers are skilled at asking about these qualities. A happy employee is productive and effective at his or her job!

If you are in training, take some time to get creative and answer the questions above. Doodle, make lists, or journal—find a moment to reflect on your hard work and on the promise of your future.
 

Kevin Swiatek, DO

Dr. Swiatek is a third-year Chief Fellow in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Swiatek is a member of the CHEST Trainee Work Group. His clinical interests include general pulmonary medicine, care of patients with pulmonary hypertension, and using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) as a diagnostic tool in the medical intensive care unit. His scholarly interests include implementation of fellowship medical education, teaching POCUS, and clinical and diagnostic assessment of patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Reprinted from Thought Leader Blog. August 23, 2021. www.chestnet.org.

Thanksgiving has long been my favorite holiday: a chance to reconnect with family and friends as well as time for reflection, gratitude, and hope. While Thanksgiving 2020 (sadly) was spent eating takeout turkey on the couch due to the pandemic, I am hopeful that Thanksgiving 2021 will for most of us bring a return to the holiday traditions that sustain us.

In this month’s issue of GIHN, we highlight several important studies impacting frontline clinical practice. Relevant to patients with liver disease, we highlight work evaluating the potential supra-additive effects of alcohol intake and obesity in impacting cirrhosis incidence and assessing the comparative performance of non-invasive screening tests in detecting NASH-related fibrosis. Another study of note, relevant to clinical management of GERD, suggests that combinations of abnormal pH-impedance monitoring metrics may predict PPI nonresponders better than individual metrics and could be used to identify patients more likely to respond to invasive GERD management.

We also wish to acknowledge in this issue the outstanding work that AGA and its fellow societies do on behalf of the gastroenterology community in developing and harmonizing ACGME Reporting Milestones for GI and Transplant Hepatology fellowship programs to assist with trainee assessment. Our fellowship trainees represent the future of our profession, and it is of critical importance that we train competent, compassionate professionals who will provide outstanding clinical care to our patients. Kudos to the team, including Dr. Brijen Shah, GI & Hepatology News associate editor Dr. Janice Jou, and others, for their hard work on Milestones 2.0!

Megan A. Adams, MD, JD, MSc
Editor in Chief

Thanksgiving has long been my favorite holiday: a chance to reconnect with family and friends as well as time for reflection, gratitude, and hope. While Thanksgiving 2020 (sadly) was spent eating takeout turkey on the couch due to the pandemic, I am hopeful that Thanksgiving 2021 will for most of us bring a return to the holiday traditions that sustain us.

In this month’s issue of GIHN, we highlight several important studies impacting frontline clinical practice. Relevant to patients with liver disease, we highlight work evaluating the potential supra-additive effects of alcohol intake and obesity in impacting cirrhosis incidence and assessing the comparative performance of non-invasive screening tests in detecting NASH-related fibrosis. Another study of note, relevant to clinical management of GERD, suggests that combinations of abnormal pH-impedance monitoring metrics may predict PPI nonresponders better than individual metrics and could be used to identify patients more likely to respond to invasive GERD management.

We also wish to acknowledge in this issue the outstanding work that AGA and its fellow societies do on behalf of the gastroenterology community in developing and harmonizing ACGME Reporting Milestones for GI and Transplant Hepatology fellowship programs to assist with trainee assessment. Our fellowship trainees represent the future of our profession, and it is of critical importance that we train competent, compassionate professionals who will provide outstanding clinical care to our patients. Kudos to the team, including Dr. Brijen Shah, GI & Hepatology News associate editor Dr. Janice Jou, and others, for their hard work on Milestones 2.0!

Megan A. Adams, MD, JD, MSc
Editor in Chief

Thanksgiving has long been my favorite holiday: a chance to reconnect with family and friends as well as time for reflection, gratitude, and hope. While Thanksgiving 2020 (sadly) was spent eating takeout turkey on the couch due to the pandemic, I am hopeful that Thanksgiving 2021 will for most of us bring a return to the holiday traditions that sustain us.

In this month’s issue of GIHN, we highlight several important studies impacting frontline clinical practice. Relevant to patients with liver disease, we highlight work evaluating the potential supra-additive effects of alcohol intake and obesity in impacting cirrhosis incidence and assessing the comparative performance of non-invasive screening tests in detecting NASH-related fibrosis. Another study of note, relevant to clinical management of GERD, suggests that combinations of abnormal pH-impedance monitoring metrics may predict PPI nonresponders better than individual metrics and could be used to identify patients more likely to respond to invasive GERD management.

We also wish to acknowledge in this issue the outstanding work that AGA and its fellow societies do on behalf of the gastroenterology community in developing and harmonizing ACGME Reporting Milestones for GI and Transplant Hepatology fellowship programs to assist with trainee assessment. Our fellowship trainees represent the future of our profession, and it is of critical importance that we train competent, compassionate professionals who will provide outstanding clinical care to our patients. Kudos to the team, including Dr. Brijen Shah, GI & Hepatology News associate editor Dr. Janice Jou, and others, for their hard work on Milestones 2.0!

Megan A. Adams, MD, JD, MSc
Editor in Chief

As COVID-19 cases rise in the United States due to the Delta variant, there is renewed concern about infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during endoscopy. In May 2021, AGA released updated recommendations on preprocedure testing post vaccination in the setting of ongoing population-wide vaccination programs for the prevention of COVID-19–related morbidity. In vaccinated individuals, breakthrough infections occurred very infrequently. Weighing the evidence demonstrating extremely low rates of rates of infection and transmission with vaccination and PPE, and considering the downsides of routine testing (burden, cost, false test results, increased disparities), AGA made a conditional recommendation against routine preprocedure testing for elective cases. The highly contagious Delta variant has now emerged as the predominant SARS-CoV2 virus in the U.S. and some data suggests that it may cause more severe illness than previous strains.  While more breakthrough infections may develop in fully vaccinated individuals, the greatest risk of infection, transmission and hospitalizations is among those who are unvaccinated.

• AGA suggests against reinstituting routine preprocedure testing prior to elective endoscopy. The downsides (delays in patient care, burden, inaccurate results) outweigh potential benefits. Infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from asymptomatic individuals is rare especially among vaccinated health care workers using personal protective equipment (PPE), even with the emergence of the Delta variant.
• If PPE is available, AGA recommends using N95 for upper endoscopy and suggests using N95 or surgical masks for lower endoscopy (acknowledging that upper endoscopy is more aerosolizing than lower endoscopy) and continuation of elective and nonelective endoscopy.
• Based on local prevalence rates, PPE, and test availability, in intermediate- and high-prevalence settings, preprocedure testing may be used to inform PPE decisions (N95 versus surgical mask). Additional benefits to testing are small and include deferring elective endoscopy in individuals testing positive and reducing anxiety among staff and patients.

As COVID-19 cases rise in the United States due to the Delta variant, there is renewed concern about infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during endoscopy. In May 2021, AGA released updated recommendations on preprocedure testing post vaccination in the setting of ongoing population-wide vaccination programs for the prevention of COVID-19–related morbidity. In vaccinated individuals, breakthrough infections occurred very infrequently. Weighing the evidence demonstrating extremely low rates of rates of infection and transmission with vaccination and PPE, and considering the downsides of routine testing (burden, cost, false test results, increased disparities), AGA made a conditional recommendation against routine preprocedure testing for elective cases. The highly contagious Delta variant has now emerged as the predominant SARS-CoV2 virus in the U.S. and some data suggests that it may cause more severe illness than previous strains.  While more breakthrough infections may develop in fully vaccinated individuals, the greatest risk of infection, transmission and hospitalizations is among those who are unvaccinated.

• AGA suggests against reinstituting routine preprocedure testing prior to elective endoscopy. The downsides (delays in patient care, burden, inaccurate results) outweigh potential benefits. Infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from asymptomatic individuals is rare especially among vaccinated health care workers using personal protective equipment (PPE), even with the emergence of the Delta variant.
• If PPE is available, AGA recommends using N95 for upper endoscopy and suggests using N95 or surgical masks for lower endoscopy (acknowledging that upper endoscopy is more aerosolizing than lower endoscopy) and continuation of elective and nonelective endoscopy.
• Based on local prevalence rates, PPE, and test availability, in intermediate- and high-prevalence settings, preprocedure testing may be used to inform PPE decisions (N95 versus surgical mask). Additional benefits to testing are small and include deferring elective endoscopy in individuals testing positive and reducing anxiety among staff and patients.

As COVID-19 cases rise in the United States due to the Delta variant, there is renewed concern about infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during endoscopy. In May 2021, AGA released updated recommendations on preprocedure testing post vaccination in the setting of ongoing population-wide vaccination programs for the prevention of COVID-19–related morbidity. In vaccinated individuals, breakthrough infections occurred very infrequently. Weighing the evidence demonstrating extremely low rates of rates of infection and transmission with vaccination and PPE, and considering the downsides of routine testing (burden, cost, false test results, increased disparities), AGA made a conditional recommendation against routine preprocedure testing for elective cases. The highly contagious Delta variant has now emerged as the predominant SARS-CoV2 virus in the U.S. and some data suggests that it may cause more severe illness than previous strains.  While more breakthrough infections may develop in fully vaccinated individuals, the greatest risk of infection, transmission and hospitalizations is among those who are unvaccinated.

• AGA suggests against reinstituting routine preprocedure testing prior to elective endoscopy. The downsides (delays in patient care, burden, inaccurate results) outweigh potential benefits. Infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from asymptomatic individuals is rare especially among vaccinated health care workers using personal protective equipment (PPE), even with the emergence of the Delta variant.
• If PPE is available, AGA recommends using N95 for upper endoscopy and suggests using N95 or surgical masks for lower endoscopy (acknowledging that upper endoscopy is more aerosolizing than lower endoscopy) and continuation of elective and nonelective endoscopy.
• Based on local prevalence rates, PPE, and test availability, in intermediate- and high-prevalence settings, preprocedure testing may be used to inform PPE decisions (N95 versus surgical mask). Additional benefits to testing are small and include deferring elective endoscopy in individuals testing positive and reducing anxiety among staff and patients.

AGA President John Inadomi, MD, and former AGA President David Lieberman, MD, along with American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and Fight CRC, met with Assistant Secretary of Labor, Ali Khawar, and representatives from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and U.S. Department of Treasury to request they direct private health plans to cover colonoscopy after a positive noninvasive colorectal cancer (CRC) screening test.

The meeting was in response to an appeal sent to the three agencies, which provided guidance to health plans to ensure that workers have the benefits that have been agreed upon by their employers. As part of the Affordable Care Act, plans are mandated to cover colorectal cancer screening without cost sharing.

In May 2021, when the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPFTF) lowered the recommended CRC screening age to 45, it also stated that “positive results on stool-based screening tests require follow-up with colonoscopy for the screening benefits to be achieved.”

To ensure that privately insured Americans receive proper CRC screening, AGA, ACS, and Fight CRC are pushing the government to provide written guidance to private plans clarifying that follow-up colonoscopies conducted after a positive noninvasive screening test are part of the colorectal cancer screening process and, therefore, patients should not face out-of-pocket costs when completing colorectal cancer screening.

Colorectal cancer remains the second leading killer in cancer in the United States despite the availability of preventive screening options. In 2018, just 68.8% of those eligible were screened for colorectal cancer. The challenge of getting people screened was exacerbated in 2020 when it is estimated that colorectal cancer screening declined by 86% during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

AGA President John Inadomi, MD, and former AGA President David Lieberman, MD, along with American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and Fight CRC, met with Assistant Secretary of Labor, Ali Khawar, and representatives from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and U.S. Department of Treasury to request they direct private health plans to cover colonoscopy after a positive noninvasive colorectal cancer (CRC) screening test.

The meeting was in response to an appeal sent to the three agencies, which provided guidance to health plans to ensure that workers have the benefits that have been agreed upon by their employers. As part of the Affordable Care Act, plans are mandated to cover colorectal cancer screening without cost sharing.

In May 2021, when the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPFTF) lowered the recommended CRC screening age to 45, it also stated that “positive results on stool-based screening tests require follow-up with colonoscopy for the screening benefits to be achieved.”

To ensure that privately insured Americans receive proper CRC screening, AGA, ACS, and Fight CRC are pushing the government to provide written guidance to private plans clarifying that follow-up colonoscopies conducted after a positive noninvasive screening test are part of the colorectal cancer screening process and, therefore, patients should not face out-of-pocket costs when completing colorectal cancer screening.

Colorectal cancer remains the second leading killer in cancer in the United States despite the availability of preventive screening options. In 2018, just 68.8% of those eligible were screened for colorectal cancer. The challenge of getting people screened was exacerbated in 2020 when it is estimated that colorectal cancer screening declined by 86% during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

AGA President John Inadomi, MD, and former AGA President David Lieberman, MD, along with American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and Fight CRC, met with Assistant Secretary of Labor, Ali Khawar, and representatives from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and U.S. Department of Treasury to request they direct private health plans to cover colonoscopy after a positive noninvasive colorectal cancer (CRC) screening test.

The meeting was in response to an appeal sent to the three agencies, which provided guidance to health plans to ensure that workers have the benefits that have been agreed upon by their employers. As part of the Affordable Care Act, plans are mandated to cover colorectal cancer screening without cost sharing.

In May 2021, when the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPFTF) lowered the recommended CRC screening age to 45, it also stated that “positive results on stool-based screening tests require follow-up with colonoscopy for the screening benefits to be achieved.”

To ensure that privately insured Americans receive proper CRC screening, AGA, ACS, and Fight CRC are pushing the government to provide written guidance to private plans clarifying that follow-up colonoscopies conducted after a positive noninvasive screening test are part of the colorectal cancer screening process and, therefore, patients should not face out-of-pocket costs when completing colorectal cancer screening.

Colorectal cancer remains the second leading killer in cancer in the United States despite the availability of preventive screening options. In 2018, just 68.8% of those eligible were screened for colorectal cancer. The challenge of getting people screened was exacerbated in 2020 when it is estimated that colorectal cancer screening declined by 86% during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic.