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Medicare and Additional Scans for Women with Dense Breast Tissue

April 23, 2024

What: The New York Times reports that Medicare sometimes won’t pay for additional breast scans, like an ultrasound or MRI, for women with dense breast tissue, even though mammograms can miss tumors in those situations.

Why it matters: Patients view the scans as routine, but then can end up with a hefty bill. There is disagreement among experts: A federal task force says there isn’t enough data from clinical trials to officially back additional screenings for women with dense breast tissue, but the American College of Radiology disagrees.

Source: New York Times

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