The U.S. House Appropriations Committee may further delay implementation of the 2009 U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) breast cancer screening recommendations another year with draft legislation approved July 12.
According to an American College of Radiology (ACR) release, the document would extend the delay through Jan. 1, 2021. Many groups, including the ACR, support the delay, favoring the USPSTF's 2002 recommendations passed in 2015.
Those USPSTF guidelines call for screening every one to two years beginning at age 40. The 2009 guidelines suggest screening for patients ages 50 to 74, which was given a “C” grade and thus does not require private insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act.
The draft legislation will now go to a joint congressional conference committee where the Senate will use its own bill to create reconciliations before it will be voted on by the full House and Senate, and a final presidential review.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.