Pillar FAQ's

General Questions
Pillar 1 -- Tobacco Use
Pillar 2 -- Diet & Nutrition
Pillar 3 -- Physical Activity
Pillar 4 -- Prevention, Screening & Early Detection
What is meant by "sustain a culture that promotes appropriate cancer-screening behaviors"?

An organization must demonstrate that its culture promotes and encourages appropriate cancer-screening tests and exams using approaches that work best within the specific organization (e.g. web, newsletters, brochures, seminars, videos etc.). It is important to educate employees about why they should be screened for particular cancers and about when to be screened for particular cancers. There are numerous tactics that would allow an organization to fulfill this CEO Cancer Gold Standard requirement.
Do all health benefit plans have to include coverage for cancer screening?

Yes, as with other CEO Cancer Gold Standard requirements that involve health benefit plans, all enrolled employees and covered dependents must be included, and all plans (fully insured as well as self-insured) must be included and must pass the "cost is not a barrier" test.
Which cancer screenings have to be covered in all health benefit plans?

An organization must cover tests and cancer-screening procedures as recommended by either the American Cancer Society (ACS) or the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). For each particular cancer, an organization may choose to exclusively follow American Cancer Society guidelines, exclusively follow USPSTF guidelines, or any combination of the two sets of guidelines.   Refer to the American Cancer Society Cancer Detection Guidelines for their complete recommendations.  The USPSTF recommendations can be found in USPSTF Recommendations.
Is there a recommended method to follow in determining which cancer screening guidelines should be followed for each type of cancer?

No, an organization should review both sets of guidelines (ACS and USPSTF) and make a decision based on what is the most appropriate for its employee population. The specific screening tests that must be covered, at a minimum, in order to meet the requirement of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard are as follows:

Breast Cancer:
Screening mammography, with or without clinical breast exam (CBE), every 1-2 years for women aged 40 and older

Cervical Cancer:
Pap test, beginning within 3 years of onset of sexual activity or age 21 (whichever comes first), at least every 3 years for women

Colorectal Cancer:
Fecal occult blood test (FOBT), every year for men and women aged 50 and older

 

What is meant by "all vaccines approved by the FDA, and recommended by the CDC, for the prevention of cancer"?

Gold Standard-accredited organizations must include in their health benefit plans coverage for any FDA-approved (and CDC-recommended) cancer vaccines. Currently, the FDA has approved the use of two vaccines to prevent cervical cancer (Gardasil and Cervarix), and both the Centers for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Society for Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) have issued recommendations concerning the vaccines against HPV (Human Papillomavirus) to prevent cervical cancer.
What is the American Cancer Society (ACS)?

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service. The American Cancer Society has established guidelines for the early detection of cancer.
What is the U. S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)?

The USPSTF was convened by the US Public Health Service to rigorously evaluate clinical research in order to assess the merits of preventive measures, including screening tests, counseling, immunizations, and preventive medications. One of their areas of focus is cancer screening.
What is meant by "removing cost as a barrier" to accessing cancer screening and cancer vaccines?

All health benefit plans must cover cancer-screening tests/exams/vaccines at a cost-sharing level that is low enough (via sufficiently-low co-pays, co-insurance or deductibles) so that there is a high level of participation in cancer screening.   It does not require that screenings and vaccines be covered "at no cost" to the enrolled employee or covered dependent (although doing so would clearly meet the requirement). The goal is to encourage appropriate screenings by covering them at a reasonable cost, or, if desired, at no cost. An organization must demonstrate that cost is not an impediment for an individual to obtain appropriate cancer-screening tests/exams and vaccines.
Pillar 5 -- Access to Quality Treatment & Clinical Trials

GOLD STANDARD FOCUS

Read Dr. Leonard Berry’s powerful remarks to the CEO Roundtable on Cancer, September 11, 2009, Philadelphia, PA.
Employers of Choice Attacking Cancer


Learn how CEOs are making a difference in the lives of their employees by implementing the CEO Cancer Gold Standard.  Listen to what employees are saying about the Gold Standard in Their Own Voices.


Brochure.pngLearn much more about the Gold Standard by reading The Evidence and The Benefits to Your Organization. 

Did You Know?

Mammography can detect breast cancer at an early stage, when treatment may be more effective and survival is more likely.