The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), an alliance of 27 of the nation’s leading cancer centers, has been recognized as a qualified provider-led entity (PLE) for the new Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) Program by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Through this qualification, CMS — the nation’s largest health payer — recognizes NCCN as a group qualified to develop AUC and establish policy and decision-making for diagnostic imaging in patients with cancer. NCCN Imaging AUC are available free of charge to registered users of NCCN.org and can be accessed at NCCN.org/ImagingAUC.
“NCCN is proud of this acknowledgement from CMS, and we congratulate our fellow PLEs on their recognition,” said Robert W. Carlson, M.D., chief executive officer, NCCN. “At NCCN, we strive to improve the lives of people with cancer, and as a CMS-approved provider-led entity for development of diagnostic imaging AUC, we help to further assure that patients with cancer receive quality care while avoiding unnecessary diagnostic imaging.”
Adapted from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines), NCCN Imaging AUC support clinical decision-making around the use of imaging in patients with cancer by outlining all imaging procedures recommended in the NCCN Guidelines, including radiographs, computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional nuclear medicine imaging (PET, SPECT), and ultrasound. NCCN is committed to assuring that the most up-to-date recommendations are available and reviews and updates the NCCN Imaging AUC™ on a continual basis to ensure that the recommendations take into account the most current evidence.
Today, NCCN Imaging AUC for the following NCCN Guidelines are available:
• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Version 1.2016
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Version 1.2016
• Bladder Cancer, Version 2.2016
• Breast Cancer, Version 2.2016
• Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast and Ovarian, Version 2.2016
• Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal, Version 1.2016
• Hodgkin Lymphoma, Version 3.2016
• Lung Cancer Screening, Version 2.2016
• Neuroendocrine Tumors, Version 2.2016
• Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma, Version 1.2016
• Prostate Cancer, Version 3.2016
• Prostate Cancer Early Detection, Version 2.2016
NCCN Imaging AUC for additional cancer types will be published in the coming months.
NCCN Guidelines are the recognized standard for clinical policy in cancer care and are the most thorough and frequently updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. Since June 2008, CMS has recognized the NCCN Drugs & Biologics Compendium (NCCN Compendium) as a mandated reference for establishment of coverage policy and coverage decisions regarding the use of drugs and biologics in cancer care.
For more information: NCCN.org/ImagingAUC
January 30, 2026 
