Obama administration and Companies say: Mammogram coverage won't change!

The Obama administration distanced itself from new standards recommended this week by U.S. Preventivate services Task Force -USPSTF- saying government insurance programs would continue to cover routine mammograms for women start at age 40.

Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services stressed that the task force "is an outside indipendent panel of doctors and scientist who make recommendations" and who neither "set federal policy" nor "determine what services are covered by the federal government".

She also said: "I would be very surprised if any private insurance company changed its mammography coverage".



And now, let's see what companies say.

USA TODAY contacted same companies (Kaiser Permanente, Aetna, Cigna, Geisinger Health Plan, Group Health Cooperative and WellPoint) and they say that they will continue paying for mammograms for womein in their 40s. Those companies operate Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans in 14 states and cover more than 73 million people.

Companies, however, are not ignoring the task force's advice.

WellPoint says that the company considers the task force's recommandations but also weights advice from the American Cancer Society and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Group Health Cooperative says that the company plans to look at the task force's recommendations next year but it would still pay for the screening.

Till When?

Breast Cancer Screening: Let's Laugh!

U.S. Preventivate Services Task Force -USPSTF-, on Monday, released new raccomendations for women getting mammograms.

USPSTF now says that women who are not at risk (lack a family history of the disease) should get mammogram once every two years starting at age 50. Here is the reasons (they say):

• mammograph yeld modest benefits -don't make me laugh-;
• wholesale screening puts women at risk for unnecessary medical treatments.

Before considering above points, I have a question: Who can be considered risk free?

Let's talk about the first point: USPSTF's collected data tell us that screening reduces the breast cancer death rate by 15%. Do you think 15% is not enoguht? Do you think 15% is not relevant?

I think ONE live spared is relevant!
I think US people think the same!
I'm sure GOD thinks the same.

Let's talk about the second point: USPSTF experts tell us that unclear or false results (we are talking about mammograph) can cause doctors to perform invasive tests like biopsies: they can cause patients to suffer extreme anxiety. I agree with them: I don't like needles, scalpes and I hate injections; but if I have to deal with cancer/death I prefer deal with anxiety!

By the way, before you get to do a biopsy why don't you think to do another mammograph in another medical center subjecting it to another specialist (doctor)?

I am an Italian citizen who speaks English badly (and writes it worse!) attending and working with medical researchers: when they read this news have expressed their total dissatisfaction.

They say that women over 40 y.o. have to get their annual mammograms.