American Cancer Society responds to USPSTF's and NBCC's recommendations on breast cancer screening

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The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) along with the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) announced yesterday its new recommendations against mammography for women ages 40-49 and monthly self-breast exams.

The USPSTF is an independent panel of primary care physicians funded and staffed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency (HHS) for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

These newest recommendations from USPSTF (a federal government-funded committee with no medical imaging representation) have left women and the medical community in disagreement and has sparked a national debate over whether the newest recommendations could be adopted as policy.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) released a strong statement on its website disagreeing with the newest recommendations and still continues to recommend annual screening using mammography for all women beginning at age 40.

The recommendations also come after the announcement that Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published final regulations that will dramatically reduce physician reimbursements for medical imaging services beginning in 2010.

"I am deeply concerned about the actions of the USPSTF in severely limiting screening for breast cancer. These recommendations in combination with recent CMS imaging cuts, jeopardizing access to both long proven and cutting-edge diagnostic imaging technologies," stated James H. Thrall, M.D., FACR, Chair of the American College of Radiology Board of Chancellors.

Like many women expressing concerns over the latest recommendations, San Mateo County resident, Dorsa Koon weighed in on the subject with her opinions. "There is no set rule or age when breast cancer can strike a woman," said Koon.

She also shared an experience of a friend, "she wasn't 50 when her breast cancer was diagnosed. She was able to beat breast cancer because they found it in time with a mammogram. If it had not been found by early detection, it would have been fatal for her. Family members shaved their heads in support of her while she was undergoing treatment."

Koon also stated that the recommendations are concerning, especially for women who may not have private health insurance and if Medicare was to adopt these latest recommendations as policy.

She is not the only one concerned about about Medicare and private insurers adopting the current recommendations as policy. "If Medicare and private insurers adopt these incredibly flawed USPSTF recommendations as a rationale for refusing women coverage of these life saving exams, it could have deadly effects for American women," stated the Chair of the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Commission, Carol H. Lee, M.D. in a recent press release.

Medicare currently covers annual mammograms for women age 40 and older. Medicare also currently pays for one baseline mammogram for women with Medicare between the ages of 35 and 39.

In a press release issued earlier today by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Secretary Kathleen Sebelius stated there is no question that the USPSTF's recommendations have caused a great deal of confusion and worry for women and their families across the nation.

"I would be very surprised if any private insurance company changed its mammography coverage decisions as a result of this action," said Sebelius.

"The U.S. Preventative Task Force is an outside independent panel of doctors and scientists who make recommendations. They do not set federal policy and they don't determine what services are covered by the federal government."

According to the American College of Radiology, the mortality rate of breast cancer has decreased by 30 percent since the onset of scheduled yearly mammography screening implemented in 1990. A reduction of deaths caused by breast cancer that remained unseen for 50 years preceding preventative screening.

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