H.R. 1298House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

CT Colonography Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act of 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 1:15 PM UTC

The CT Colonography Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act of 2017 would add CT colonography to the list of Medicare‑covered colorectal cancer screening tests. It sets payment rules, limits how often the test can be used, and requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to report on its use and impact. The changes affect Medicare beneficiaries and the providers who perform the screening.

Key Provisions

Amends the Social Security Act to list screening computed tomography colonography as a covered colorectal cancer screening test under Medicare.
Establishes payment limits: the fee schedule follows existing rates for similar services, the Secretary sets a maximum payment amount, and patient coinsurance is capped at 25% of that amount.
Sets frequency limits – no coverage for people under 50, and specific waiting periods (23 months for high‑risk patients, 119 months after a colonoscopy or 59 months after a flexible sigmoidoscopy or prior CT colonography for average‑risk patients).
Aligns the new test with existing frequency rules for other screening methods (flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy).
Exempts CT colonography from a special imaging payment rule, treating it like other screening tests.
Requires a preliminary report within 90 days of enactment and annual reports for five years on coverage implementation, utilization, impact on screening rates, and access, especially in rural or underserved areas.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

3 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 17, 2017

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 1, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Energy and Commerce Committee

March 1, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 10, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 17, 2017

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 1298 on the floor

1 Democrat

Rep. Gwen MooreD-WI-4 · Nov 15, 2017

Mr. Speaker, I have heard from many of my constituents who are concerned about U.S. involvement in Yemen. The country is in ruins, civilians are paying the price, and there seems to be little to no…

Mr. Speaker, I have heard from many of my constituents who are concerned about U.S. involvement in Yemen. The

country is in ruins, civilians are paying the price, and there seems to be little to no interest in using our considerable heft and moral authority to search for and find a diplomatic solution.

We are no closer to peace in Yemen today than when the first bombs dropped. What we do have after over two years of war and suffering is a fractured country, repeated attacks on health and other civilian facilities in a country now experiencing a deadly cholera outbreak that could eventually reach 1 million suspected cases by year's end, limited access to lifesaving humanitarian aid, including the decision last week by the Saudi-led coalition to close all ports and ground all humanitarian flights into the country that will only make a bad situation, worse.

That decision was quickly condemned by the United Nations and others who warned about the dire consequences for Yemen's 27 million citizens. In the face of international pressure and condemnation, it appears the Saudi-led coalition may now reopen some ports but the situation remains dire.

There are serious questions that need to be answered about U.S. involvement, direct and indirect, including what it is actually helping to achieve, and what are the costs. While participation in the Yemen civil war preceded this Administration, that fact does not remove the responsibility of the President and this Congress.

The final FY 2018 Defense Authorization bill (H.R. 2810) that we are going to consider later this week includes a provision calling for a U.S. Security Strategy for Yemen from this Administration. That would be a step forward. Unfortunately, the bill that will come before the House this week would strip--without public debate, discussion, or deliberation--a provision from the House-passed bill that would have barred any use of taxpayer funding to deploy members of the U.S. Armed Forces to participate in the ongoing civil war in Yemen.

Additionally, the House-passed version of H.R. 1298 barred the use of taxpayer funds authorized in the bill to conduct U.S. military operations in Yemen. That provision was also dropped in conference with the Senate, again with no public debate or deliberation. If we agree that the humanitarian situation is horrific, that a political solution is the only solution, then why keep the pathway open for broader U.S. military engagement?

The provisions in the House-passed version of H.R. 2810 would have put strong teeth behind the resolution we are considering today and behind the concerns expressed during this debate and in this resolution regarding the humanitarian crises that is unfolding in Yemen as a direct result of this damaging conflict.

Mr. Speaker, it is not in our nation's interest to make a dangerous region only more volatile. It is not in our nation's interest to see Yemen become an even more broken and divided nation and even a failed state. And it is not clear that continuing to do more of the same will not reverse those trends or bring us closer to the diplomatic solution that is almost universally recognized as the only effective solution.

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued March 1, 2017

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1298

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 1, 2017

Mr. Wenstrup (for himself and Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to cover screening computed tomography colonography as a colorectal cancer screening test under the Medicare program.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the CT Colonography Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act of 2017.

Coverage of computed tomography colonography screening as a colorectal cancer screening test under Medicare

(a)

In general

Section 1861(pp)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(pp)(1)) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); and

(2)

by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new subparagraph:

(D)

Screening computed tomography colonography.

(b)

Frequency limits and payment

Section 1834(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(4)

Screening computed tomography colonography

(A)

Fee schedule

With respect to a colorectal cancer screening test consisting of screening computed tomography colonography, subject to subparagraph (B), payment under section 1848 shall be consistent with payment under such section for similar or related services.

(B)

Payment limit

In the case of screening computed tomography colonography, payment under this part shall not exceed such amount as the Secretary specifies, based upon rates recognized for diagnostic computed tomography colonography.

(C)

Facility payment limit

Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, in the case of an individual who receives screening computed tomography colonography—

(i)

in computing the amount of any applicable coinsurance, the computation of such coinsurance shall be based upon the fee schedule under which payment is made for the services; and

(ii)

the amount of such coinsurance shall not exceed 25 percent of the payment amount under the fee schedule described in subparagraph (A).

(D)

Frequency limit

No payment may be made under this part for a colorectal cancer screening test consisting of a screening computed tomography colonography—

(i)

if the individual is under 50 years of age; or

(ii)

(I)

in the case of individuals at high risk for colorectal cancer, if the procedure is performed within the 23 months after a previous screening computed tomography colonography or a previous screening colonoscopy; or

(II)

in the case of an individual who is not at high risk for colorectal cancer, if the procedure is performed within the 119 months after a previous screening colonoscopy or within the 59 months after a previous screening flexible sigmoidoscopy or a previous screening computed tomography colonography.

(c)

Conforming frequency limits for other colorectal cancer screening tests

(1)

Screening flexible sigmoidoscopy

Paragraph (2)(E)(ii) of section 1834(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(d)) is amended by inserting or screening computed tomography colonography after previous screening flexible sigmoidoscopy.

(2)

Screening colonoscopy

Paragraph (3)(E) of such section is amended—

(A)

by inserting or screening computed tomography colonography after 23 months after a previous screening colonoscopy; and

(B)

by inserting or screening computed tomography colonography after screening flexible sigmoidoscopy.

(d)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2018.

Exemption of screening computed tomography colonography from special rule on payment for imaging services

(a)

In general

Section 1848(b)(4)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(b)(4)(B)) is amended by inserting and screening computed tomography colonography after diagnostic and screening mammography.

(b)

Effective date

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2018.

Reports on the status of covering computed tomography colonography as a colorectal cancer screening test under Medicare

(a)

Preliminary report

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a preliminary report to Congress on the status of coverage of computed tomography colonography as a colorectal cancer screening test under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, including the extent to which such coverage as required by the amendments made by sections 2 and 3 has been implemented.

(b)

Annual report

Not later than September 30 of each fiscal year during the 5-year period beginning with fiscal year 2019, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress, a status report on the following:

(1)

The impact of screening computed tomography colonography on the change in colorectal cancer screening compliance of Medicare beneficiaries.

(2)

The various utilization rates with respect to Medicare beneficiaries for each available colorectal cancer screening option before and after the availability of and coverage of screening computed tomography colonography under the Medicare program pursuant to the enactment of this Act, including—

(A)

by initial CRC screening performed with respect to a Medicare beneficiary per year, including the age of the beneficiary when the initial screening was performed; and

(B)

by follow-on screening performed, whereby the analysis demonstrates to what extent screening computed tomography colonography was used as a substitute for a previous screening procedure.

(3)

Access to screening computed tomography colonography by Medicare beneficiaries, especially in rural areas or underserved populations, before and after the date of implementation of coverage of such screening benefit under the Medicare program pursuant to the enactment of this Act.

(4)

Recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Secretary determines appropriate to implement this Act.