Why Aren’t Medicare Enrollees Participating in Decision Making Sessions Prior to Lung Cancer Screening?

Source: CancerNetwork.com

A surprisingly low percentage of Medicare enrollees who undergo low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer participate in a shared decision-making (SDM) session prior to the screening, in spite of a reimbursement requirement to do so, according to a new analysis. Among those who do have an SDM session, a high percentage opt to avoid the screening.

“Several factors may contribute to this finding, including the recentness of the [SDM] mandate, lack of training in SDM, and competing priorities for clinicians,” the authors wrote, adding that SDM may have occurred as part of a separate medical encounter as well. “Inability or unwillingness to engage in SDM may contribute to the low overall use of LDCT screening and less awareness of its implications among eligible patients.”

>>Read More