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Tahoe Physicians
and Radon
To
get more physicians at Lake Tahoe involved in radon awareness
and to encourage their patients to test their homes for radon,
I present here some of the many methods and programs doctors
elsewhere are using. It can be as little as adding a question
to their health history survey. Also, I encourage all Tahoe
physicians to test their own home for radon since over half
the homes in South Lake Tahoe are expected to have high radon.
The
Iowa Cancer Consortium has published a video on YouTube
aimed at physicians and radon. There is a need for health professionals,
especially front-line family practicioners, to better understand
radon for themselves so they will test their own homes and be
a positive role model for their patients.
As
Dr. Vermillion says in the video, he was not really trained
on radon in medical school and it wasn't until a non-smoking
patient presented lung cancer symptoms to him that he decided
to look into it closer. In the process of testing her for lung
cancer, he decided to test his own home for radon. He found
elevated radon levels and had his house fixed and now has added
a radon question to his medical history survey.
Watch
the video.
It's
Official! Medicare Covers Lung Cancer Screening!
Lung
Cancer Alliance Directs High Risk to Get Screened at Center
of Excellence
Today
(2-5-15), Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) applauds the game-changing
move by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
who issued their final decision requiring Medicare coverage
of low-dose computed tomography (CT) lung cancer screening for
at-risk beneficiaries.
This
ruling finalizes a draft decision issued in November 2014 that
brings the benefit of screening to approximately five million
American seniors, the most at-risk group for lung cancer. This
represents close to half of the entire at risk public who fall
between the ages of 55 and 77 that would qualify for screening.
“Today
is a transformative moment. Lung cancer screening can now stand
shoulder to shoulder with mammography, colonoscopy, pap smears
and other proven cancer screenings that have saved countless
lives,” said Lung Cancer Alliance President and CEO, Laurie
Fenton Ambrose. “This signals a new day where lung cancer
transitions from the number one cancer killer to a treatable,
even curable disease.”
Medicare
beneficiaries between the ages of 55 and 77 with a 30 pack year
history will be covered. Providers are immediately eligible
for reimbursement as permanent codes and levels are finalized.
“Our
work now is to ensure those at high risk for lung cancer know
about this life saving benefit and have access to screening
in high quality settings,” added Fenton Ambrose. “Lung
Cancer Alliance has helped establish an ever-expanding nationwide
network of hundreds of screening centers providing best practice
care safely and responsibly.
For
information about risk and where to go to get screened visit:
www.lungcanceralliance.org or call 1-800-298-2436.
The
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force mentions radon as part
of their risk assessment. “Age, total cumulative exposure
to tobacco smoke, and years since quitting smoking are the most
important risk factors for lung cancer. Other risk factors include
specific occupational exposures, radon
exposure, family history, and history of pulmonary fibrosis
or chronic obstructive lung disease.”
View
PDF of the Task Force Recommendations
Lung
cancer screening presents a teachable moment to discuss radon
exposure since patients are concerned about either having lung
cancer or reducing their risk.
Lake
Tahoe Newborn Radon Program
 Fashioned
after the successful Pennsylvania Newborn Radon Program (including
logo and even color!), the Lake Tahoe Newborn Radon Program
could (if supported by the hospital and community) provide free
radon test kit flyers for all parents of newborn babies at Barton
Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe. The green cover, stork
image, graphs and text encourage new parents to provide a clean
and healthy environment for their new child by first testing
their home for radon. Free test kits will be provided through
a health grant (so far undesignated). When operational, It is
hoped that this first (to our knowledge) radon outreach to new
parents in California will be taken over and reproduced by the
California State Radon Program, similar to Pennsylvania's successful
program.
View
the Tahoe Newborn Radon Program Page.
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