The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, Paula Burkes column
I had my annual mammogram on Thursday and was delighted to learn
Medicare has covered 3-D mammograms, or tomosynthesis, since
TRICARE and HMSA in
If their insurers don't cover the imaging itself or a doctor's reading of it -- or apply it to out-of-pocket deductibles -- patients at the Edmond office of OU Medicine's Breast Health Network may pay as much as
OU spokeswoman
Brown said OU Medicine staff, including
The legislation updates a state law passed 30 years ago mandating mammography coverage for
Under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, mammograms, as annual preventive screenings, are supposed to be covered with no cost sharing. Yet, thousands of women whose insurance companies don't yet cover 3-D mammograms are having to decide whether to pay extra or risk having breast cancer that goes undetected.
Adding to the confusion is insurance coverage varies from plan to plan.
"However, as with any service received from a non-contracting provider, BCBSOK cannot prevent a non-contracting provider from billing our members for the difference, if any between the amount the non-contracting provider charges and the amount BCBSOK allows for the service," she said. "Additionally, if a covered 3-D mammography is provided during an office visit and is billed separately from the office visit, a member may be responsible for any applicable deductible, copayment and/or coinsurance amount for the office visit only."
In other words, not all
The good news is most of that will change
The bad news is national providers may be exempt from state laws, so
Mind Your Own Business @ home and @ work.
___
(c)2018 The Oklahoman
Visit The Oklahoman at www.newsok.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Fallen firefighters’ families attend opening of arson and murder trial
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News