The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today that it will expand Medicare coverage nationally for the treatment of common sun-induced skin lesions, known as actinic keratoses, that can develop into skin cancer.

The decision establishes a national Medicare coverage policy for removing the lesions without restrictions based on lesion or patient characteristics. Previously, Medicare claims-processing contractors had established local policies that restricted coverage of specific lesion types (such as those located on specific parts of the body) or for certain patients (such as those with a prior history of skin cancer).