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Insurers ponder whether to continue paying for routine PSA's

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Posted 10/8/2011 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
This is from the New York Times.  Some insurers says they will continue to pay for the test.  Others will not, and some are undecided:  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/08/health/policy/08consumer.html?_r=1&gwh

If anyone has already posted this in one of the other threads, I apologize for doing so again.  I've read most of the stuff that's been posted and haven't seen this referenced.

Posted 10/8/2011 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
The period of public comment has not even opened yet and insurance companies are already getting ready to deny claims..Talk about jumping the gun...

Fortunately, these tests are fairly inexpensive so I suspect many men will have it done anyway, especially if their GP recommends it...I had one done at a street clinic in Mexico for $35. Had the results in 6 hours..That included the blood draw..
Posted 10/8/2011 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
There is a lab here that does a number of tests fairly inexpensively at a local department store. The PSA test is $60 and it takes two weeks to get the results. Primary physician charges $75 and results in a week. As Fairwind says the cost of the test is not likely to bankrupt anyone. If you are concerned or have a family history get the test no matter who pays up front. You will surely pay in many ways in the end.

Don
Posted 10/8/2011 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
I would guess that Senators and Congressmen will not like this benefit cut from their FEHB plan; therefore, they will take some action.

Or maybe they'll duck the issue and pay for their tests out of pocket.  After all, its just a bunch of old men complaining.

The real question concerns who will pay for biopsies and treatment.  If PSA's go wont their be a dramatic reduction in biopsies and treatment? 

Posted 10/8/2011 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
RCS, those Senators and Congressmen need to know that young men in their 40s and 50s get PCa.  Just look at the ages of some posting on this forum.  I am not even sure where we can let our feelings be known.  Ron and I would sign some petition or write a letter.

Fairwind, you have put a PSA 0.0.  I thought there was no such thing?  Not sure, just curious.

Posted 10/8/2011 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Aimzee,

You can post a reply to the Task Force starting October 11.  Go to the following link for more information:

http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm

Posted 10/8/2011 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, RCS!
Posted 10/8/2011 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
Signature updated..
Posted 10/9/2011 6:33 AM (GMT 0)
My doc told me that with my stats at the time of d.x. I had most likely had pca since my mid thirties
Posted 10/9/2011 10:26 AM (GMT 0)
hello there
not sure if this is the article you mention, as I can't read the links you have posted. But this article is certainly worrying for my way of thinking, I thought the earlier the detection the better the outcome. I think this is from the cost of health point of view? How knows, but It is is worrying that they say no benefit in screening? It is just crap, they are trying to put a dollar figure on it and it just don't work like that, sad reading indeed.



http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-07/routine-prostate-cancer-screening-risky-u-s-panel.html
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