Repeat mammograms?

Question:

I had a mammogram earlier in the week and I got a call saying they needed to take more pictures. The same thing happened last year. Do you think that they are being extra careful now a days? I have a lot of friends who have had to go back for a second look. I am not complaining because I have insurance, but do you think they sometimes do this for the money?

Answers:
Nobody is ever going to get rich by doing mammograms. Where I work, in Northern California, we lose money with every mammo we do.we don't even break even. The costs of doing mammos are so high and the reimbursement from insurance companies are so low! So, I don't think that money making is an issue. The following is lengthy, but accurate!

"The US government has been using a system that sets mammography reimbursement rates far below the costs of performing the study. "Medicare pays about $67 for a screening mammogram and about $80 for a diagnostic mammogram," said Dr. Mendelson. Dr. Feig, during his discussion added, "Medicare fees represent the benchmark for other insurers. Mammography reimbursement rates have increased at less than 1% per year, and have not kept up with the mounting expenses for performing the examination. These increasing expenses have resulted from new federal regulation, quality assurance efforts, and the complexity of the examination to meet current quality standards, improve the standard of care, and the need to discuss the results of the examinations with patients before they leave the breast imaging center. All of these have incrementally increased the cost of performing mammography."
Radiologists perform screening mammograms to detect unsuspected breast cancers; a suspicious screening mammogram or a manually detected breast lump prompts a diagnostic mammography study. Diagnostic mammograms are more time-intensive and expensive, as all diagnostic mammography films must be shown to the interpreting physician, often prompting further diagnostic tests. In addition, diagnostic mammograms consume much more clinical labor time, supplies, and equipment. However, the total payment to the mammographer for the technical component of a diagnostic mammogram (unilateral or bilateral) is $33.94 -- 26% less than the congressionally mandated rate for the technical reimbursement for a screening mammogram, which is reimbursed at $46.12. Diagnostic mammograms are detrimental to an imaging center's bottom line."

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/4204...

Why you are experiencing more call backs, and your friends are experiencing the same, I cannot answer. I have not noticed a higher call back rate lately in my facility.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/the...

Repeat mammograms?

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