Save a Life. . . .

This weeks news regarding a recent study stating that the current recommended practice of yearly mammograms after 40 years old only causing, "false alarms and needless biopsies" has caused tidal waves of fear and apprehension throughout health care and a scramble to adjust reimbursement practices among insurance companies.

The study’s findings contrast the long standing American Cancer Society recommendations, and the American Cancer Society has stated it will not be changing its recommendation.

Since the implementation of their recommendations death from breast cancer have seen a significant decrease.

Even Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the Dept. of Health and human Services, recommends approaching this study’s recommendation with caution.

Unfortunately American consumers may not have the option to disregard this finding, even though it represents only one study of hundreds and the evidence that previous practices have been working to save lives.

Insurance companies, with the opportunity for millions of profit increases by rejecting yearly mammograms, have all ready begun denying the procedure.

This shows a scary, opportunistic movement towards rejecting many, proven methods of treatment for one-single outlier study.

What will the insurance companies go after next?

I’m guessing colonoscopies after 50 years old.

Most scientist know that given the right circumstances just about any study can be manipulated into obtaining the desired results.

Insurance companies certainly have the assets and leverage to encourage poorly funded scientists for a hand in their research.

Unfortunately, this immoral practice comes at the cost of human lives.

Again, profits are taking precedent over people, and people are losing their ability to chose how they'd like their bodies treated.

I hope our representatives remember this as the senate prepares for a healthcare vote that is threatened by republicans to end in a filibuster.

Reform measures, in the form of regulation, appear to be the only way to stop large companies from using the ala carte method of picking studies to enforce their practices and not actually using the overall, scientifically proven method of practice.