June 17, 2009
June 15th-21st is National Men's Health Week and June 21st is Father's Day!
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is asking the provider community to keep men with Medicare healthy by ensuring that they take advantage of Medicare-covered preventive services. Medicare covers colorectal and prostate cancer screenings, among other preventive services.
What Can You Do?
As a health care professional who provides care to seniors and others with Medicare, you can help protect the health of your Medicare patients who may be at risk for cancer by educating them about their risk factors and reminding them of the importance of getting the preventive cancer screenings covered by Medicare. Early detection and treatment of cancer can help men with Medicare live longer, fuller, healthier lives.
For More Information
CMS has developed several educational products related to Medicare-covered preventive services, including screenings for various forms of cancer. Please visit the Medicare Learning Network for more information, including the following cancer-screening pages:
- The MLN Preventive Services Educational Products Web Page ~ provides descriptions and ordering information for Medicare Learning Network (MLN) preventive services educational products and resources for health care professionals and their staff. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp
- Cancer
Screenings Brochure ~ This tri-fold brochure provides health care professionals
with an overview of Medicare's coverage of cancer screening tests, including
colorectal and prostate cancer screenings. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/cancer_screening.pdf
- Quick Reference Information: Medicare Preventive Services ~ This double-sided
chart provides coverage and coding information on Medicare-covered cancer
screenings. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/MPS_QuickReferenceChart_1.pdf
Thank you for helping CMS improve the health of men with Medicare who are at risk for cancer by joining in the effort to educate beneficiaries about cancer, and the importance of early detection by taking advantage of the cancer screenings covered by Medicare.
