Medicare Now Covers Oncotype DX Testing

Oncotype DX is a genomic test that can help predict near- and long-term outcomes in prostate cancer. About half of all men diagnosed with prostate cancer could be treated with active surveillance for a period of time. The Oncotype DX test is a genomic test that can help in determining the aggressiveness of a prostate cancer case and it’s likelihood of recurrence after treatment.

“More than 220,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year in the United States alone. The Medicare coverage decision extends reimbursement for Oncotype DX testing to prostate cancer patients defined as low- and very low-risk by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), who are eligible based on clinical and pathological factors such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and Gleason score.”

The effective date for Medicare coverage will be after the 45-day notice period according to Palmetto GBA’s process. This should be sometime near the end of September 2015.

Prostate Cancer’s Enigma

Science is learning more about prostate cancer all of the time, but there still are many unknowns. With more than 20 different varieties of prostate cancer, the biggest challenge is determining which are the aggressive types that claim the lives of 30,000 American men every year, and which are passive and not live-threatening.

The Oncotype DX test helps newly diagnosed men evaluate their individual prostate cancer and choose a more informed treatment program. You can learn more about the test at MyProstateCancerTreatment.org.

The First Step in Beating Prostate Cancer

Advanced prostate cancer is virtually impossible to cure so it’s critical to find your prostate cancer as early as possible.  The simplest way to do that is to schedule an annual PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test beginning at age 35 and personally track the test results each year to see if there is any increase.

Prostate cancer affects the entire family, just like breast cancer. If you’re in a relationship, make it a point to jointly schedule your annual PSA test with your partner’s annual mammogram.

Test once a year and prostate cancer can’t sneak up on you! Take your PSA test and track the results at ProstateTracker.org.