An introduction to economic issues in breast imaging

Marked increases in national health care costs, along with governmental coverage of health care costs for the elderly under Medicare, have resulted in increased government regulation of medical reimbursement rates. Private insurers and HMOs now provide reimbursements that are frequently the same or lower than those from Medicare. Reimbursement rates for mammography have been particularly restricted. Although screening mammography appears to be as cost-effective as other commonly accepted medical interventions, some third-party payors have been reluctant to reimburse screening mammography because of its perceived effect on overall health care costs. An objective analysis shows that inclusion of coverage for screening mammography, however, even beginning at age 40 years, has only a slight effect on total health care costs. Adequate reimbursement for screening mammography supports an effort that provides substantial reduction in deaths from breast cancer.