Mammogram coverage won't change, companies say

[maddezmom]

Source: USA Today

By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY
Insurance companies contacted by USA TODAY say they will continue paying for annual mammograms amid widespread fears that new breast cancer screening guidelines from a federal task force could lead women to lose coverage for those tests.

The guidelines – suggesting that most women under 50 don't need routine mammograms and that women over 50 need them only every other year – were issued Monday night by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius tried to ease women's fears by affirming her support for mammography and noting that government policy won't change. Medicare is required by law to cover one mammogram for women from 35 to 39 and annual screenings after that. Sebelius can change that coverage after consulting with the head of the National Cancer Institute.

Although task-force experts are government-appointed, "they do not set federal policy and they don't determine what services are covered by the federal government," Sebelius said in a statement.




Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-11-19-1Amammogram19_ST_N.htm

[Why Syzygy]

1. This is important. nt

[boppers]

2. Mammography causes increased risk of cancer.

Does the public not understand that radioactive examination has relative risks?