Dover – Delaware Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart, CIR-ML, has announced that all health insurance policies issued, delivered, or renewed after December 1, 2009 must include Virtual Colonoscopy as an approved procedure for colorectal cancer screening.

While consumers and their doctors may continue to choose the traditional sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy for such screenings, some may find the virtual colonoscopy a less invasive and less costly procedure. Commissioner Stewart stated that, “It is very important that at-risk people and those over the age of 50 get colorectal screenings. Many may find that the virtual colonoscopy is a procedure that overcomes the negative perceptions of what is involved in the traditional screening modalities.”

Stewart announced this approval via a Bulletin sent to all Delaware health insurers on October 29th. This action was taken after the procedure was endorsed by the Delaware Cancer Consortium and signed off on by Delaware’s Secretary of Health and Social Services Rita M. Landgraf.

###

Contacts:
Elliott Jacobson (302) 674-7303; (202) 294-3266 cell
Michael Gould (302) 674-7304