Article: Cost sharing may lower mammography rates.(Practice Trends)

Greater use of copayment and deductibles may be reducing the number of women seeking mammography, a new study of women enrolled in Medicare managed-care plans shows.

The investigators reviewed data from 174 plans and found that, on average, 77% of women in plans with full coverage had received their biennial screening, compared with 69% of women in plans with cost sharing for their health care visits.

In addition, the study reviewed seven plans that instituted a copayment or a deductible in 2003 and compared them with 14 plans that did not. The mammography rates in those plans that adopted cost sharing declined by 5%. In contrast, mammography rates ...

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