The ongoing financial crisis in California has forced the state to raise to 50 the age at which it begins funding mammography screening exams for low-income women.
Effective January 1, 2010, California Department of Public Health's Every Woman Counts program for low-income women will change the eligibility age for screening services to 50 years of age and over, and will suspend all new enrollments for breast cancer screening until July 2010, according to CDPH director Dr. Mark Horton.
Horton cited fiscal challenges as a result of increasing demand for breast cancer screening services and declining state tobacco tax revenues -- the primary source of funding for the program -- as reasons for the change.
The state's move comes in the wake of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's (USPSTF) recommendation that mammography screening begin at 50 years of age rather than 40. Although the U.S. government has said that it will not change existing Medicare policy, which pays for screening mammograms starting at age 40, mammography advocates have been watching for signs that public and private payors might switch to the higher screening age.
The CDPH's move sparked an immediate response from Congress, with more than 20 members inking a December 11 letter to California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) asking him to overrule the decision.
"While we understand the state of California is facing massive deficits and is seeking creative avenues to close these deficits, we do not believe that the CDPH’s recommendations to reduce access to low-income women to mammograms is an appropriate action to take to solve the state’s fiscal woes. It is penny unwise and pound foolish," the letter said.
Related Reading
ACR issues alert for mammo coverage changes, December 10, 2009
U.S. Senate boosts preventive care for women, December 3, 2009
U.S. debate over mammograms splits along party lines, December 3, 2009
Panel of radiologists rejects USPSTF mammogram guidelines, December 2, 2009
Controversy can't alter facts: Screening mammography has proven benefits, December 2, 2009
Copyright © 2009 AuntMinnie.com
