High Imaging Costs Discourage Breast Cancer Care, Study Shows.

A new study found that about 21% of patients would skip follow-up breast imaging after an abnormal mammogram if they had to pay a deductible. The high cost of additional imaging tests exacerbates existing health disparities and deters people from getting the preventative breast cancer care they need. People who were less-educated, had a lower income, were not white, and had Medicaid or no insurance were most likely to avoid both mammography and additional breast imaging due to cost. Experts suggest that lowering costs may be a matter of redefining what is considered a preventative screening test versus a diagnostic test and that real change in the costs associated with follow-up breast imaging may need to come from a higher level.