THIS IS C/P'ED FROM MY VETERANS GROUP: HEALTH CARE BILL
Here's a vet issue hidden in the relationship between the new health care bill (Senate Version HR 3590) and the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations. It's a long read but please see my message below. We need to protect our benefits.
As you know, a government task force just recommended far less breast cancer screening for women. I decided to follow up with some research after I heard Senator Barasso (R-WY) explain that USPSTF recommendations are addressed in the Senate version of the health care bill. He caught my attention when he said it addresses what the government will or will not pay for in accordance with the task force recommendations. Since I am retired military, I believe these provisions will apply to me with my military (government funded) health care insurance. I believe it also applies to active duty, of course, and Medicare/Medicaid recipients and any other government provided insurance that comes out of this reform plan. In short, many people will be affected.
I found a current version of the bill at view link
Under the Bill’s section on government authority to modify or eliminate coverage, it says the government can modify coverage consistent with the USPSTF and that the government shall not pay for any service not receiving a certain grade from the task force. (Text is below) The breast cancer screening received grades high enough so the government can pay for it – that’s the good news. They are not mandated by law to not pay for the service. This doesn’t mean they may decide against covering it, but at least they have an option. Not so in all cases.
In my research I discovered there are many things that do not receive the USPSTF grade, and the government will not be allowed to pay for anymore. I found the task force web site and started looking at the grades. (http://www.ahrq.gov/CLINIC/cps3dix.htm) There are about 90 reports. Anything I listed below is mandated as “no payments shall be made” …. There were others; this is just a partial list.
I suggest you check the list and decide for yourself how you feel about this portion of the Bill HR 3590 Sec 4105. I immediately noticed the age cut offs. For example, no pap smears for women over 65 and no prostrate screening for men over 75. This infuriates me; it declares the elderly expendable. And of special note to menopause women and the men who live with them, no hormone replacement therapy.
If this concerns you, please act. Just reading this and/or forwarding it will not make a difference in the legislative process. Whether you support health care reform or the rest of this bill, you can still point out and request your Senator to change at least this part. A simple one sentence email to him/her will do. “I oppose HR 3509 Sec 4105 because I do not want preventive services limited this way by the USPSTF.” Just sign with your full name and home town. Enough of these can make a difference. You can also contact any relevant lobby group (AARP, American Cancer Society, etc) and ask for their support.
Grade D “no payment shall be made” Services
The USPSTF recommends against routinely screening women older than age 65 for cervical cancer if they have had adequate recent screening with normal Pap smears and are not otherwise at high risk for cervical cancer
The USPSTF recommends against screening for colorectal cancer in adults older than age 85 years.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against routine screening for ovarian cancer.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against routine screening for pancreatic cancer in asymptomatic adults using abdominal palpation, ultrasonography, or serologic markers.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against routine screening for testicular cancer in asymptomatic adolescent and adult males.
The USPSTF recommends against screening for prostate cancer in men age 75 years or older.
The USPSTF recommends against routine screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm in women
The USPSTF recommends against the use of aspirin for stroke prevention in women younger than 55 years and for myocardial infarction prevention in men younger than 45 years.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against screening for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (CAS) in the general adult population.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against routine screening with resting electrocardiography (ECG), exercise treadmill test (ETT), or electron-beam computerized tomography (EBCT) scanning for coronary calcium for either the presence of severe coronary artery stenosis (CAS) or the prediction of coronary heart disease (CHD) events in adults at low risk for CHD events.
The USPSTF recommends against routine screening for peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against the routine use of combined estrogen and progestin for the prevention of chronic conditions in postmenopausal women.
The USPSTF recommends against the routine use of unopposed estrogen for the prevention of chronic conditions in postmenopausal women who have had a hysterectomy.
The USPSTF recommends against screening adults for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using spirometry
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THE BILL H. R. 3590 pg 1190
SEC. 4105. EVIDENCE-BASED COVERAGE OF PREVENTIVE
SERVICES IN MEDICARE
‘‘(n) AUTHORITY TO MODIFY OR ELIMINATE COVERAGE OF CERTAIN PREVENTIVE SERVICES.—Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, effective beginning on January 1, 2010, if the Secretary determines appropriate, the Secretary may—
‘‘(1) modify—
‘‘(A) the coverage of any preventive service described in subparagraph (A) of section 1861(ddd)(3) to the extent that such modification is consistent with the recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force; and
‘‘(B) the services included in the initial preventive physical examination described in subparagraph (B) of such section; and
1190
‘‘(2) provide that no payment shall be made under this title for a preventive service described in subparagraph (A) of such section that has not received a grade of A, B, C, or I by such Task Force.’’.
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view linkFOR YOUR THANKSGIVING READING ENJOYMENT..LOL...LL
