The American College of Radiology (ACR) agrees with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) National Academy of Science’s conclusion that film mammography is still the "gold standard" for early detection of breast cancer and that new technologies also show promise. ACR is pleased that the IOM, in its report, Mammography and Beyond: Developing Technologies for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer, has cited early detection and improved therapy as key reasons for the continuing decrease in mortality from breast cancer.
The College has for sometime pressed for federal legislation increasing reimbursement rates for all mammography procedures. ACR, therefore, also is pleased that the report recommends that HCFA should analyze the current Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates for mammography to determine if they adequately cover the total costs of providing the procedure with special attention paid to the costs of complying with the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA. ACR has urged HCFA to revisit this issue and to raise the rates to better reflect the costs.
Finally, the College supports two other IOM recommendations involving the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN). One is that ACRIN participate in a study of the benefits and risks of mammography screening for women over 70. The other deals with creation of a permanent system for testing the efficacy and clinical effectiveness of new cancer early detection technologies as they emerge.
Return to Film-screen mammography remains gold standard, IOM says
