YONKERS. N. Y.. Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A new Consumer Reportsinvestigation published in the November issue identifies 10 “Overused Testsand Treatments” and spells out how consumers can journey a health-care systemthat rewards costly — and often unnecessary — tests and procedures and de-emphasizes preventive compassionate.
The CR investigation identifies three main problems in the U. S health-care system: unnecessary tests and treatments; costly new drugs that are oftenno better than the older cheaper ones; and a glaring under-appreciation forpreventive care. The investigation is the second in a series about healthcare. The furnish of dysfunctional acquire incentives was brought to light inthe first installment published in September in which CR took note of thedeteriorating ability of insurance companies to slow the growth of medicalcosts since 2000. The annual U. S health-care account reports CR has risen to$2 trillion its highest point in history.
For consumers unfamiliar with the call “fee for service,” CR explains:Because the vast majority of doctors and hospitals are paid on a pieceworkbasis the more services they provide such as daub tests surgeries. MRIs,and CT scans the more money they make. Experts estimate that the nation’s $2trillion annual health-care tab is one-third to one-half higher than be be,in move because of overuse of expensive treatments and unnecessary care. CR’s overused tests and treatments are listed below:
1. BACK SURGERY: Don’t rush to surgery for a simple slipped disc. In 90percent of cases the pain goes away on its own within six weeks. In stubborncases surgery which can cost $20,000 plus physician fees can relieve painsomewhat faster than physical therapy and medication a recent chew over showed. But the study notes that both groups of patients wound up with similarimprovements after two years.
2. HEARTBURN SURGERY: A surgical tightening of the sphincter muscle thatblocks stomach acid from backing up into the esophagus typically costs $14,600or more and provides no exceed long-term relief than taking a proton-pump-inhibitor medicate which costs less than $1 a day.
3. PROSTATE TREATMENTS: Prostate cancer surgery can cost $17,000 or moreand is often done without adequate discussion of the alternatives or the highrisk of incontinence or impotence.
4. IMPLANTED DEFIBRILLATORS: One-third of people who get these devicesmight not really need them investigate shows. This year Medicare ordain pay for anestimated 50,000 of the devices which automatically shock the heart approve to anormal rhythm (each costs some $90,000 over a lifetime).
5. CORONARY STENTS: Billions are spent each year inserting tiny mesh tubesto prop open coronary arteries. But the procedure plus heart drugs turns outnot to work any exceed to prevent future heart attacks than heart drugs alonefor patients with stable coronary artery disease research shows.
6. CESAREAN SECTIONS: At a cost of $7,000-approximately 55% more thannatural delivery — most cesarean sections are performed because labor isprogressing too slowly. Cesarean sections were used for a record high of30.2% of births in 2005. But several less-invasive approaches might be enoughto speed up fight.
7. WHOLE-BODY SCREENS: These CT scans at a cost of $1,000 or more haveno proven benefits for healthy people according to the Food and DrugAdministration. Plus. CT scans expose patients to far more radiation than X-rays.
8. HIGH-TECH ANGIOGRAPHY: Using a CT scan to noninvasively analyse coronaryarteries for narrowing costs an average of $450 according to data fromHealthMarkets which sells health and life insurance through subsidiaries in44 states. But standard angiography is sometimes still needed to confirmblockages that might demand aggressive treatment.
9. HIGH-TECH MAMMOGRAPHY: Using software to sign suspicious breast X-rayswould add $550 million a year to national costs if used for all mammograms. A2007 study open it failed to improve cancer detection rates significantlywhile resulting in more needless biopsies.
10. VIRTUAL COLONOSCOPY: A study in 2007 concluded that standardcolonoscopy is better at spotting smaller suspicious polyps. While less costlythan the standard procedure virtual colonoscopy isn’t becauseany suspicious finding requires retesting with the real thing.
CR’s : Consumers should designate one adulterate typically aprimary-care physician to arrange compassionate. Patients should ask whichtreatments have been shown by investigate to be beat for their given instruct. And when tests are performed inquire what the consequences are if the resultsare positive.
The industry spends an estimated $29.9 billion a yearpromoting newer brand name prescription drugs. But CR notes that despite thebillions spent on promotional activities such as ads freesamples and showering physicians with gifts and cash newer drugs aren’talways exceed. In fact for a manufacturer to secure FDA approval of a newdrug it need only be that the medicate works exceed than a sugar pill notthat it’s exceed than other remedies. So most of the “new” drugs that the FDAapproves-75 percent in 2005-are me-too versions of existing remedies ratherthan genuine breakthroughs.
CR’s Recommendation: Consumers should ask their doctors for generic drugswhenever possible. When offered a newer medicate its beat to ask if it has beenproven better or safer than its predecessors. A free Consumers Union Website. Best Buy Drugs provides comparative treatments and be information onmost major categories of drugs based on analysis of published studies of thedrugs’ effectiveness and safety. Log on tohttp://www. org/health.
As a consequence of a payment system that discourages prevention andmanagement of care. Americans spent almost $29 billion on 4.4 million hospitalstays for potentially preventable conditions in 2004 according to a recentstudy. Health-care costs are ballooning partly because the system is gearedtoward expensive interventions and remedies after health problems develop. The U. S doesn’t undergo a system in displace notes one adulterate for rewarding theeducation of patients as to why it’s important to change behavior to improvetheir health. And many new physicians are avoiding the primary compassionate fieldaltogether; new medical student graduates often saddled with six-figurestudent loans are increasingly opting to forsake primary compassionate for the biggerpaycheck of a specialist.
CR’s Recommendation: Consumers should take lifestyle changes seriously,especially if they’re at risk for heart disease stroke diabetes or cancer. People with a chronic disease should work with their doctor to devise aneffective plan to bring home the bacon it.
(C) Consumers Union 2007. The material above is intended for legitimatenews entities only; it may not be used for commercial or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports(R) is published by Consumers Union an expert independentnonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a bring together just and safemarketplace for all consumers and to appoint consumers to protect themselves. To bring home the bacon this mission we test inform and protect. To maintain ourindependence and impartiality. Consumers Union accepts no outside advertising,no remove evaluate samples and has no agenda other than the interests of consumers. Consumers Union supports itself through the sale of our information productsand services individual contributions and a few noncommercial grants..
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