Final healthcare reform legislation is likely to require coverage for more mammograms than controversial new guidelines after radiologists, imaging equipment makers, and women's groups stepped up pressure on lawmakers.
Radiologists and breast cancer advocates swung into action in November after the federally funded U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued guidelines that suggested screening should begin at age 50 and then be conducted every other year.
The American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) also responded by publishing recommendations that annual breast cancer screening should begin at age 40 for the average patient and even earlier in high-risk patients.
At the RSNA meeting in November, a panel of breast cancer screening experts stated that the USPSTF guidelines were flat-out wrong.
During recent negotiations on the healthcare reform package, the U.S. Senate approved an amendment from Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) that effectively nullified the USPSTF's guidelines and promised mammogram coverage for women starting at age 40.
Shortly before the Christmas break, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution saying the task force guidelines shouldn't be used by insurers to deny coverage for routine mammograms. The nonbinding measure is named for Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), a breast cancer survivor.
Medicare covers an annual screening mammogram for all women with Medicare ages 40 and older. Medicare also covers digital technologies for screening mammograms.
Related Reading
Study eyes breast screening of minority women, December 9, 2009
Go directly to biopsy for palpable breast lesions? Not necessarily, December 7, 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
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