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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

State law requires insurance payment for doctor-ordered mammograms

By Karrey Britt

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger said Kansas law requires insurance company payment for mammograms for insured women whose physicians have ordered them.

According to Kansas statutes, the decision to have a mammogram is still one that an insured woman and her doctor have the right to make, regardless of age,” Praeger said. “That continues to be the best way to handle this — with a decision between patient and doctor.”

Last week’s announcement that a government-sponsored task force had loosened guidelines for breast-cancer screenings generated new fears about possible health care restrictions during a time when national health care reform is being debated in Congress. It made unclear to many whether the new recommendations would change the coverage for such screenings in insurance policies.

The guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggested that women under age 50 didn’t need routine mammograms and that women 50 and older needed one only every other year.

Praeger said the Kansas Legislature would have the final say in any state changes.

“The only way to change our mammogram mandate now would be for the state to change current law,” she said.

To find the current law, visit the Kansas Legislature’s Web site and enter Statute number 40-2230.

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