FEINSTEIN IS THE OLDEST MEMBER
IN THE UPPER CHAMBER.
SHE SAYS SHE PLANS TO RETIRE
WHEN HER TERM ENDS IN 2025.
>> A PANEL OF HEALTH EXPERTS
URGING WOMEN TO START GETTING
SCREENED FOR BREAST CANCER TEN
YEARS EARLIER THAN PREVIOUSLY
ADVISED.
DR. NATALIE AZAR IS HERE TO
EXPLAIN WHAT’S GOING ON HERE.
BOY, THIS CAME AS A SURPRISE.
WHAT PROMPTED THIS?
>> HERE WE GO AGAIN, RIGHT, WITH
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
MAMMOGRAMS.
IN A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT
DEPARTURE, THERE IS NOW A
RECOMMENDATION THAT WOMEN WHO
ARE AT AVERAGE RISK FOR BREAST
CANCER BEGIN SCREENING AT THE
AGE OF 40, AS OPPOSED TO 50.
THAT THEY DO SO EVERY TWO YEARS
UNTIL THE AGE OF 74.
NOW, THIS BRINGS THEM MORE IN
LINE WITH A LOT OF OTHER MEDICAL
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE AMERICAN
CANCER SOCIETY, THE AMERICAN
COLLEGE OF RADIOLOGY, LET’S SAY,
WHO HAVE FOR MANY YEARS
RECOMMENDED THAT BREAST
SCREENING BEGIN AT THE AGE OF
40.
BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS
WE’VE HEARD FROM OUTSIDE EXPERTS
IS THIS EVERY OTHER YEAR.
MOST EXPERTS REALLY RECOMMEND
THAT WOMEN GET ANNUAL
MAMMOGRAMS.
I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT
THIS, ANNUAL MAMMOGRAMS
BEGINNING AT THE AGE OF 40
BECAUSE THE RISK FOR MISSING
THOSE AGRANDSONIVE CANCERS IS
PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
>> WHEN YOU SAY BREAST
SCREENINGS, YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT MAMMOGRAMS.
DOES THIS HAVE ANY EFFECT ON
WHAT INSURANCE WILL PAY FOR?
>> THE ANSWER IS NO.
THE CDC OBLIGATES INSURANCE TO
COVER MAMMOGRAMS.
THE TASK FORCE SETS THESE
PREVENTIVE SCREENING GUIDELINES