Preventive Services, Health Screenings Covered by Medicare
Most healthcare providers and public health workers would adamantly agree that a key approach to health is participation in routine health screening and prevention activities. Prevention of disease saves dollars and mitigates morbidity and mortality. For most conditions, early detection confers improved outcomes.
Recognizing the numerous benefits of screening activities, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has been implementing policy changes to either offer coverage or increase the amount of remuneration for screening activities. This trend reflects a paradigm shift for the agency, to support activities for people to stay healthy rather than a myopic focus on disease treatment.
Over the years, CMS notes that less than ten percent of Medicare recipients participate in screening activities which are recommended as standard care guidelines. Moreover, less than five percent of Medicare dollars have been spent on such services.
The agency is undertaking new efforts to change this, noting the available data that supports completion of activities to support healthy living. In addition to providing financial support, the organization completed a massive media campaign to raise awareness about participation in screening and Medicare coverage of such. The agency completed a 48 state bus tour over the summer.
According to a piece published in the Wall Street Journal, activities supported by Medicare include smoking cessation, cancer screening for breast, cervical, and prostate cancer, vaccines for Hepatitis B, pneumonia, and the flu, along with diabetic and cardiovascular screening, among other prevention efforts. New enrollees are also eligible for a complete physical.
August 31, 2007 Related topics: Legal & legislative, Trends, Diagnostic