|
E-mail this page to a friend!
Medicare-Paid Cholesterol Screening Up 20 Percent,
Says Survey
July 14, 2005 Since January, senior citizens on
Medicare have been eligible for government-paid cholesterol screening
and a new survey by a manufacturer of a cholesterol testing device says
the number receiving this potentially life-saving screening may have
increased up to 20 percent. The good news is more seniors are getting
screened, but there has to be some concern that even more are not taking
advantage of this preventive care benefit.
|
Related Stories |
|
|
Seniors Reminded of New Preventive Care Features of
Medicare
Health associations to help bring awareness to
preventive benefits
Jan.
10, 2005 Today, Health and Human Services issued a news release
reminding senior citizens of some of the benefits of their new
preventive medicine stance. Since Jan. 1, people with Medicare can
take advantage of three new Medicare benefits: a one-time "Welcome to
Medicare" physical exam, cardiovascular screening, and diabetes
screening. More...
1/10/05*
CDC
Joins Medicare in Promoting New "Welcome to Medicare" Physical Exam
Mandatory
physical exams, other testing begins January 1, 2005
Nov. 10, 2004 Medicare has joined with the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to begin educating senior
citizens on the new preventive health care program that will require a
medical exam for all those joining the program beginning January 1,
2005. More... 11/10/04*
Medicare May Help Seniors Stop Smoking
Dec. 30, 2004 The public comment period is now
open on a new proposal by Medicare to provide new coverage allowing
certain senior citizens covered by Medicare who smoke to receive
counseling services that will help them quit the habit.
More... 12/30/04*
|
|
Added to Medicare in 2005, as part of the new
emphasis on preventive care, was cardiovascular screenings to check
cholesterol and other blood fat (lipid) levels. High levels of
cholesterol can increase risk for heart disease and stroke. Medicare
will cover these tests once every five years.
Two thirds of physicians surveyed were aware of the
increased reimbursement and 21 percent have increased preventive
cholesterol screening among their Medicare patients since the coverage
went into effect in January of 2005. The study was commissioned by
Cholestech, a leading manufacturer of point of care cholesterol testing
devices.
More than 400,000 seniors die from cardiovascular
disease annually, representing 84 percent of the total number of
cardiovascular deaths in the United States. Further, it is estimated
that 25 to 29 million Medicare-eligible seniors suffer from either
coronary heart disease (CHD) or hardening of the arteries.
"At a time when healthcare expenditures are under
continuous scrutiny, CMS increased coverage and therefore, access to
preventive cholesterol screenings with the goal of improving cardiac
care," said Warren E. Pinckert II, president and CEO of Cholestech. "It
is clear that this bold move is paying off and more seniors are getting
screened -- a vital step in the identification of people at risk and the
prevention of cardiovascular disease."
|
Nursing Home Abuse, Medical Malpractice? Contact a lawyer.
click here
|
Since cholesterol remains one of the leading risks
for cardiovascular disease, the National Cholesterol Education Program,
developed by the National Institutes of Health, recommends that more
than 200 million Americans need to be screened annually.
All Medicare beneficiaries now have access to
preventive cholesterol screening blood tests for the early detection of
cardiovascular disease and all new Medicare members will be covered for
an initial physical examination.
Both include the use of three tests to detect early
risk for cardiovascular disease, including total cholesterol, an HDL
cholesterol, and a triglycerides test, which can be ordered as a lipid
panel or individually.
Previously, Medicare beneficiaries were only
covered for cholesterol tests if they suffered from diagnosed illnesses
such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes or other disorders associated
with elevated cholesterol levels. In many cases, eligible seniors were
already victims of one or more conditions that cholesterol screening
might have caught and treatment may have prevented.
About Source:
Company statement: Cholestech is
committed to enabling people to lead longer, healthier and more active
lives. Cholestech provides easy to use, accessible diagnostic tools and
information to health care practitioners in over 35 countries around the
world. Cholestech offers efficient and economic diagnostic testing for
cholesterol and related lipids, blood glucose and A1C, and liver
function at the point of care. Health care providers can use the CLIA-waived
Cholestech LDX(R) and GDX(TM) Systems to initiate and monitor the
progress of patient therapy. By providing effective disease management
solutions, Cholestech's goal is to be a leading provider of diagnostic
tools and information for immediate risk assessment and therapeutic
monitoring of heart disease and diabetes.
Click to More Senior News on the
Front Page
Copyright: SeniorJournal.com |
