HHS secretary: Policy unchanged on mammograms

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal policy on who should get breast-cancer screening has not changed, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Wednesday.

Sebelius issued a statement aimed at easing confusion over a government panel’s recommendation Monday that said most women don’t need mammograms in their 40s and should get one every two years starting at 50.

That recommendation was a break with the American Cancer Society’s long-standing position that women should get screening mammograms starting at age 40.

The task force does “not set federal policy, and they don’t determine what services are covered by the federal government,” Sebelius said.

Medicare, which covers older Americans and some younger ones who are disabled, provides women on Medicare coverage for an annual mammogram at age 40 and older.

Sebelius noted that there has been debate about the age at which routine mammograms should begin and how often they should be given.

“The task force has presented some new evidence for consideration, but our policies remain unchanged,” she said. “Indeed, I would be very surprised if any private insurance company changed its mammography coverage decisions as a result of this action.”