Maggie Fox NBC News – July 30, 2013
Up to 9 million people who have smoked the equivalent of a pack a day for 30 years might be affected by a new recommendation for yearly scans. Some say the annual screening could save up to 20 percent of future deaths from lung cancer.
Heavy smokers who are at least 55 should have an annual CT scan to check for lung cancer, a government panel says. The recommendation, which could apply to about nine million Americans, would mean Medicare and many health insurance companies must start providing the test for free to patients.
