{"id":2700,"date":"2026-06-15T18:53:27","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T18:53:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=2700"},"modified":"2026-06-15T18:53:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T18:53:27","slug":"cms-adopts-performance-based-standards-for-crc-biomarker-tests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=2700","title":{"rendered":"CMS adopts performance-based standards for CRC biomarker tests"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"ArticleContent\">\n<div class=\"article__below-title\">\n<div class=\"mobile-trust-box\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-5 d-xl-none\">\n<div class=\"trust-box\">\n<div class=\"trust-box-logo d-none d-md-block\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/h5\/feature\/news\/publogos\/hgld\/healio_gastro.svg?la=en&amp;h=40&amp;w=152&amp;hash=2C654A538F2E250F5183D42A89FE0EC0\" class=\"logo-img\" height=\"40\" alt=\"Healio Logo - Gastroenterology\" width=\"152\"\/>\n          <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 offset-md-1 offset-xl-0 col-xl-12\">\n<div class=\"email-alert-button-wrapper d-none\" data-component=\"EmailTopicAlert\" data-module=\"Subspecialty Email Topic Alerts Top\" data-manage-email-link=\"\/footer\/account-information\/my-account\/email-subscriptions-and-alerts#emailAlerts\">\n  <hidden data-setting-item=\"d265901d-6d37-49c7-a8f6-c7bf19a02509\"\/><br \/>\n  <hidden data-crm-source=\"Subspecialty Topic Alert\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-button d-none\" data-topic-button=\"not-subscribed\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n      <span data-module-track-action=\"Email Alerts TOP_Click_Healio News Article\" data-module-track-label=\"Email Alerts TOP_Healio News Article\">&#13;<br \/>\n        <i class=\"fas fa-plus-circle\"\/>&#13;<br \/>\n        Add topic to email alerts&#13;<br \/>\n      <\/span>&#13;\n    <\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-inner collapse u79be0c80ace1425584d91f9dac4d983e\">\n<div class=\"email-alert-dialogue\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n          Receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>&#13;\n        <\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-sign-up-type=\"unknown\">\n          Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>      <button type=\"button\" class=\"btn btn-primary\" data-loading-text=\"Loading &lt;i class=\" fa=\"\" fa-spinner=\"\" fa-spin=\"\">&#8220;&#13;<br \/>\n              data-action=&#8221;subscribe&#8221;&gt;&#13;<br \/>\n        Subscribe&#13;<br \/>\n      <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-topic-modal=\"failed\">    <strong>We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/gastroenterology\/20260612\/mailto:customerservice@slackinc.com\">customerservice@slackinc.com<\/a>.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n<p><button data-dismiss=\"modal\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg btn-block\">Back to Healio<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Key takeaways:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>CMS will use newly defined criteria to qualify noninvasive biomarker CRC screening tests for coverage.<\/li>\n<li>Concerns remain that evidence for thresholds may be retrofitted to current test performance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>CMS established a new national framework setting performance thresholds to qualify noninvasive, biomarker-based colorectal cancer screening options \u2014 including FDA-approved stool- and blood-based tests \u2014 for coverage.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe CMS coverage decision provides benchmarks for novel noninvasive tests to meet and exceed to gain coverage, and learn from the experience of currently approved tests<b>,\u201d Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH,<\/b> Robert M. and Mary H. Glickman Professor of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, told Healio. \u201cIt also allows newer test makers to understand the current performance standards and where improvements are needed.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"figure article__og-image\">&#13;\n    <picture>&#13;<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/gastroenterology\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/0626\/hgi0626cms_screening_graphic_01.webp?w=476\" media=\"(max-width: 768px)\">&#13;<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/gastroenterology\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/0626\/hgi0626cms_screening_graphic_01.webp?w=800\" media=\"(max-width: 992px)\">&#13;<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/gastroenterology\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/0626\/hgi0626cms_screening_graphic_01.webp?w=595\" media=\"(max-width: 1200px)\">&#13;<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/gastroenterology\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/0626\/hgi0626cms_screening_graphic_01.webp?w=476\" media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\">&#13;<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.comhttps:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/gastroenterology\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/0626\/hgi0626cms_screening_graphic_01.webp?w=476\">&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/slack-news\/gastroenterology\/misc\/infographics\/2026\/0626\/hgi0626cms_screening_graphic_01.jpg?w=800\" alt=\"Quote from Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid\" width=\"800\"\/>&#13;<br \/>\n    <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>&#13;<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">&#13;<br \/>\n      &#13;<br \/>\n    <\/figcaption>&#13;<br \/>\n  <\/figure>\n<p>      <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/gastroenterology\/20231211\/colosense-detects-crc-advanced-adenomas-with-sensitivities-of-94-46\" id=\"rId12\" target=\"_blank\">ColoSense<\/a> (Geneoscopy), the first FDA-approved multitarget stool RNA test for CRC, is also the first test added to CMS\u2019s national screening policy under the new standards.<\/p>\n<p>Though CRC is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the fourth-leading cause in women, 1 in 3 eligible U.S. adults are not up to date on screening, a study in <i>Preventing Chronic Disease <\/i>found.<\/p>\n<p>CMS\u2019s decision to cover ColoSense expands the range of screening tools available to patients reluctant to undergo colonoscopy or traditional stool-based testing, adding an option that removes a common barrier to adherence, the need for patients to handle the stool sample.<\/p>\n<p>Under the new decision, CMS will cover noninvasive biomarker-based CRC screening tests \u2014 that meet performance standards \u2014 every 3 years for adults aged 45 to 85 years at average risk.<\/p>\n<p>To qualify for coverage, blood- and stool-based tests must be FDA-approved, processed in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-approved lab and meet one of two performance criteria: have a sensitivity greater than or equal to 90% and a specificity greater than or equal to 87%, or a sensitivity greater than or equal to 79% and specificity greater than or equal to 90% in CRC detection compared with colonoscopy, the current standard.<\/p>\n<p>Shaukat acknowledged that the new performance thresholds are an improvement over past requirements \u2014 CMS used to require a sensitivity of 74% for blood-based tests \u2014 but said it is unclear what evidence the new criteria are based on.<\/p>\n<p>She expressed concern that the \u201ccriteria feel retrofitted to existing performance of stool and blood tests.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe criteria are missing mention of advanced precursor lesion sensitivity or sensitivity for stage I to II CRC, important measures of any test performance for CRC screening,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n<p>Blood-based biomarker tests underperform other screening options in early detection, missing 1 in 3 early-stage cases of CRC, according to ACG.<\/p>\n<p>CMS coverage criteria also stipulates that patients must not have CRC symptoms to qualify for a biomarker-based test, and must be informed about the test\u2019s performance, as well as the need for a follow-up colonoscopy if test results are positive.<\/p>\n<p>In a recent statement on<a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/hematology-oncology\/20260527\/guideline-update-underscores-importance-of-options-for-colorectal-cancer-screening\" id=\"rId13\" target=\"_blank\"> updated<\/a> CRC screening guidance from the American Cancer Society, <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/gastroenterology\/20260611\/acg-new-bloodbased-crc-test-guidance-asks-too-much-of-patients-navigating-screening\" id=\"rId14\" target=\"_blank\">ACG voiced concern<\/a> that clinicians may not have the time to inform patients of the performance limitations of each screening test during visits.<\/p>\n<h2>For more information:<\/h2>\n<p>      <b>Aasma Shaukat<\/b><b>, MD,<\/b><b> MPH,<\/b> is an ACG trustee and director of outcomes research in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She can be reached at <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/gastroenterology\/20260612\/mailto:gastroenterology@healio.com\" id=\"rId15\" target=\"_blank\">gastroenterology@healio.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article__content--footer\">\n<div class=\"publisher-logo\">\n    <span>Published by:<\/span><br \/>\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/~\/media\/h5\/feature\/news\/publogos\/hgld\/healio_gastro.svg?la=en&amp;h=40&amp;w=152&amp;hash=2C654A538F2E250F5183D42A89FE0EC0\" class=\"logo-img\" height=\"40\" alt=\"Healio Logo - Gastroenterology\" width=\"152\"\/>\n  <\/div>\n<div class=\"sources-references-disclosures\">\n<h3>Sources\/Disclosures<\/h3>\n<h2> Source: <\/h2>\n<p class=\"citation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geneoscopy.com\/cms-grants-medicare-coverage-for-colosense\/\">Press Release<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>References:<\/h2>\n<div class=\"disclosures\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n        <strong> Disclosures: <\/strong>&#13;<br \/>\n        Shaukat reports consulting roles with Freenome, Geneoscopy and Universal Diagnostics.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- Healio AI Widget --><\/p>\n<div class=\"healio-ai-component-inline\" data-no-ads=\"true\" data-module-track-category=\"Healio AI\" data-module-track-action=\"Click\" data-module-track-label=\"Access Healio Ai from component - News_AI Component - In-Content (all devices)\">\n<div class=\"healio-ai-content\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/m3.healio.com\/~\/media\/images\/healio-ai\/healio-ai_logo.svg\" alt=\"Healio AI\" class=\"healio-ai-logo\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ask a clinical question<\/strong> and tap into <strong>Healio AI&#8217;s knowledge<\/strong> base.<\/p>\n<ul>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>PubMed, enrolling\/recruiting trials, guidelines<\/li>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>Clinical Guidance, Healio CME, FDA news<\/li>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<li>Healio&#8217;s exclusive daily news coverage of clinical data<\/li>\n<p>&#13;\n    <\/ul>\n<p>    <button class=\"healio-ai-button\" onclick=\"window.location.href=\" https:=\"\">Learn more<\/button>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"email-alert-button-wrapper d-none\" data-component=\"EmailTopicAlert\" data-module=\"Subspecialty Email Topic Alerts Top\" data-manage-email-link=\"\/footer\/account-information\/my-account\/email-subscriptions-and-alerts#emailAlerts\">\n  <hidden data-setting-item=\"d265901d-6d37-49c7-a8f6-c7bf19a02509\"\/><br \/>\n  <hidden data-crm-source=\"Subspecialty Topic Alert\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-button d-none\" data-topic-button=\"not-subscribed\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n      <span data-module-track-action=\"Email Alerts TOP_Click_Healio News Article\" data-module-track-label=\"Email Alerts TOP_Healio News Article\">&#13;<br \/>\n        <i class=\"fas fa-plus-circle\"\/>&#13;<br \/>\n        Add topic to email alerts&#13;<br \/>\n      <\/span>&#13;\n    <\/p>\n<div class=\"email-alert-inner collapse u79be0c80ace1425584d91f9dac4d983e\">\n<div class=\"email-alert-dialogue\">\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n          Receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>&#13;\n        <\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-sign-up-type=\"unknown\">\n          Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on <span data-content=\"topic-title\"\/>.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>      <button type=\"button\" class=\"btn btn-primary\" data-loading-text=\"Loading &lt;i class=\" fa=\"\" fa-spinner=\"\" fa-spin=\"\">&#8220;&#13;<br \/>\n              data-action=&#8221;subscribe&#8221;&gt;&#13;<br \/>\n        Subscribe&#13;<br \/>\n      <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"d-none\" data-topic-modal=\"failed\">    <strong>We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/gastroenterology\/20260612\/mailto:customerservice@slackinc.com\">customerservice@slackinc.com<\/a>.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n<p><button data-dismiss=\"modal\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg btn-block\">Back to Healio<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healio.com\/news\/gastroenterology\/20260612\/cms-adopts-performancebased-standards-for-crc-biomarker-tests-evidence-questions-linger\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#13; &#13; &#13; Add topic to email alerts&#13; &#13; &#13; Receive an email when new articles are posted on &#13; Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . &#8220;&#13; data-action=&#8221;subscribe&#8221;&gt;&#13; Subscribe&#13; We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio Key takeaways: CMS will use newly defined criteria to qualify noninvasive biomarker CRC screening tests for coverage. Concerns remain that evidence for thresholds may be retrofitted to current test performance. CMS established a new national framework setting performance thresholds to qualify noninvasive, biomarker-based colorectal cancer screening options \u2014 including FDA-approved stool- and blood-based tests \u2014 for coverage. \u201cThe CMS coverage decision provides benchmarks for novel noninvasive tests to meet and exceed to gain coverage, and learn from the experience of currently approved tests,\u201d Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, Robert M. and Mary H. Glickman Professor of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, told Healio. \u201cIt also allows newer test makers to understand the current performance standards and where improvements are needed.\u201d &#13; &#13;&#13;&#13;&#13;&#13;&#13; &#13; &#13; &#13;&#13; &#13; &#13; ColoSense (Geneoscopy), the first FDA-approved multitarget stool RNA test for CRC, is also the first test added to CMS\u2019s national screening policy under the new standards. Though CRC is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the fourth-leading cause in women, 1 in 3 eligible U.S. adults are not up to date on screening, a study in Preventing Chronic Disease found. CMS\u2019s decision to cover ColoSense expands the range of screening tools available to patients reluctant to undergo colonoscopy or traditional stool-based testing, adding an option that removes a common barrier to adherence, the need for patients to handle the stool sample. Under the new decision, CMS will cover noninvasive biomarker-based CRC screening tests \u2014 that meet performance standards \u2014 every 3 years for adults aged 45 to 85 years at average risk. To qualify for coverage, blood- and stool-based tests must be FDA-approved, processed in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-approved lab and meet one of two performance criteria: have a sensitivity greater than or equal to 90% and a specificity greater than or equal to 87%, or a sensitivity greater than or equal to 79% and specificity greater than or equal to 90% in CRC detection compared with colonoscopy, the current standard. Shaukat acknowledged that the new performance thresholds are an improvement over past requirements \u2014 CMS used to require a sensitivity of 74% for blood-based tests \u2014 but said it is unclear what evidence the new criteria are based on. She expressed concern that the \u201ccriteria feel retrofitted to existing performance of stool and blood tests.\u201d \u201cThe criteria are missing mention of advanced precursor lesion sensitivity or sensitivity for stage I to II CRC, important measures of any test performance for CRC screening,\u201d she continued. Blood-based biomarker tests underperform other screening options in early detection, missing 1 in 3 early-stage cases of CRC, according to ACG. CMS coverage criteria also stipulates that patients must not have CRC symptoms to qualify for a biomarker-based test, and must be informed about the test\u2019s performance, as well as the need for a follow-up colonoscopy if test results are positive. In a recent statement on updated CRC screening guidance from the American Cancer Society, ACG voiced concern that clinicians may not have the time to inform patients of the performance limitations of each screening test during visits. For more information: Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, is an ACG trustee and director of outcomes research in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She can be reached at gastroenterology@healio.com. Published by: Sources\/Disclosures Source: Press Release References: &#13; Disclosures: &#13; Shaukat reports consulting roles with Freenome, Geneoscopy and Universal Diagnostics. Ask a clinical question and tap into Healio AI&#8217;s knowledge base. &#13; PubMed, enrolling\/recruiting trials, guidelines &#13; Clinical Guidance, Healio CME, FDA news &#13; Healio&#8217;s exclusive daily news coverage of clinical data &#13; Learn more &#13; &#13; &#13; Add topic to email alerts&#13; &#13; &#13; Receive an email when new articles are posted on &#13; Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . &#8220;&#13; data-action=&#8221;subscribe&#8221;&gt;&#13; Subscribe&#13; We were unable to process your request. 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