Monday, November 30, 2015

(Male) Cancer Wars

A year-and-a-half ago, we noted the shameful discrepancy in the kinds of "first dollar" care offered women (and children) versus us Y-chromosome types:

"All ACA-compliant plans must include a laundry list of Essential Health Benefits, including very specific preventive care coverage ... there is no corresponding requirement to cover, say, prostate exams or even STD screening for [menfolk]."

[ed: "first-dollar" coverage means not subject to deductibles or co-pays; ie "freebies"]

And it looks like the unstated goal of that omission is bearing fruit:

"The administration wants to penalize doctors who routinely order the PSA blood test."

So it's not enough just to make it expensive, we must go even farther, by punishing those recalcitrant doc's - who show no compunction about amputating feet willy-nilly - who care enough about their male patients to order a simple test that could very likely save their life (one sees no corresponding threat against mammography).

#MaleLivesMatter

[Hat Tip: Co-Blogger Mike F]
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