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Unproven for older women, digital mammography saps Medicare dollars

By Joe Eaton, Elizabeth Lucas and David Donald

High-tech, digital mammography may not be any better at detecting breast cancer in women over 65 than older film-based systems, but Medicare

Excerpts from this story referencing "Mammography":

"… my eyes’ perspective, it’s always seemed the way to go.”The Digital Mammography PremiumDespite the FDA approval and the advertisements, GE faced a stiff c …"

"… discouraged. In September, Shaw introduced the Medicare Access to Digital Mammography Act of 2000, which set the fee at $155. Spencer Abraham, the former energy …"

"… it diagnostic imaging including CT scans, PET scans, ultrasounds and MRIs. Mammography, however, was excluded from the cuts. Medicare currently reimburses a bila …"

"… based on patient outcomes rather than cancer detection is not a small one. Mammography proponents have long stressed the role that early detection plays in fight …"

Data analysis on digital mammography Medicare claims

By David Donald and Elizabeth Lucas

The Center analyzed Medicare claims data obtained from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). For the digital mammography ana

Forty percent of Medicare spending on common cancer screenings unnecessary, probe suggests

By Rochelle Sharpe and Elizabeth Lucas

Forty percent of Medicare spending on common cancer screenings may be unnecessary

Excerpts from this story referencing "Breast cancer screening":

"… was spent screening people who were in their 90s, the investigation showed.Breast cancer screening guidelines were disregarded most frequently during this period, according …"

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Research methodology

By David Donald and Elizabeth Lucas

A look at how data was gathered for Medicare reporting

Excerpts from this story referencing "Breast cancer screening":

"… cer screenings include both Papanicolaou smears and liquid-based cytology. Breast cancer screenings include both film and digital mammograms, and prostate cancer screenings …"

Digital mammography no better than film for most women, despite increased costs

By Joe Eaton

New report shows little difference despite increased costs for digital