50 and Ready for Colonoscopy? Doctors Say Wait Is Often Long

Article Abstract:

The 2001 change in Medicare coverage to offer the colonoscopy for healthy people and other public messages on preventing colon cancer have made the colonoscopy a waiting-list medical test. Due to its effectiveness in catching early signs of colon cancer and helping patients survive, both healthy and unhealthy patients are seeking the test and are willing to wait until a doctor can provide a screening. Demand for colonoscopies by Medicare patients increased 42% from 2000 through 2002. The latest version of the test, the virtual colonoscopy, uses a C.T. scanner but is not covered by health insurers.

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

Comment:  (50-4000 characters)

Name:

E-mail:

Security Code:

Health and Money Issues Arise Over Who Pays for Weight Loss

Article Abstract:

Medicare's advisers will meet to discuss whether paying for weight loss surgery for the obese is fiscally worthwhile: it seems that it would be from a preventative medicine perspective, but the answers are complicated and unclear.

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

Comment:  (50-4000 characters)

Name:

E-mail:

Security Code:

Some Extra Heft May Be Helpful, New Study Says

Article Abstract:

Researchers have found that people are overweight but not obese have a lower risk of death than thin, normal-weight and ob ese people.

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

Comment:  (50-4000 characters)

Name:

E-mail:

Security Code: