NEW YORK – A coalition of medical and advocacy groups is pushing for laws in 20 states that would require health insurers to provide colon screenings.

Colonoscopies would help decrease the rate of colorectal cancer, said The Report Card Coalition, which includes the American Cancer Society, the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Colorectal Cancer Coalition.

Seventy-five percent of colorectal cancer diagnoses in the United States could have been prevented if universal screenings had been in effect, said Peter Slocum, vice president for advocacy programs for the American Cancer Society’s eastern division.

“This is a lost opportunity,” he said.

“The push for legislation forces the discussion,” he said. “Debate helps to bring more awareness about cancer. The science of this is clear. The economies of scale are very clear.”

Slocum noted that while many health plans cover colon screenings, performance is another issue.

Mohit Ghose, vice president of public affairs for America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), agreed. AHIP, the national trade association for health plans, is against mandates for screenings.

“Despite Medicare’s long-standing coverage of colorectal cancer screening, screening rates hover in the 50 percent (range),” Ghose pointed out. “CRC screening is not a coverage issue, it is a patient education and patient-activation issue, and in some communities an issue complicated by the lack of specialists and/or limited conversations between doctor and patient on the four screening options recommended by the USPSTF and what option fits the patient the best (i.e. shared decision-making).”

Ghose said many health plans, including Aetna and Cigna, already cover colon screenings.

“We strongly advocate preventative care, including recommended cancer screenings like colonoscopy,” said Susan Millerick, a spokesperson for Aetna. “We cover these preventive services in nearly 100 percent of our standard plans. Our policy is based on recommendations from the American Cancer Society and the American College of Gastroenterology.”