Prostate Screening: Can the Government Get it Right?

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) tests are back in the news, as they are one entry point for the government to start micromanaging how it pays doctors in Medicare. To set the stage:

• Currently, Medicare pays for an annual PSA test for men 50 and older as “preventive care.”
• However, Obamacare does not consider an annual PSA test for men 50 and over as “preventive care.”
• The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s current guidelines (updated in 2012), recommend against PSA tests.
• PSA testing has declined significantly since the 2012 guidelines were updated.
• The American Cancer Society favors PSA tests for men over 50, and as early as 40 for men with more than one first-degree relative diagnosed with prostate cancer.

You can be forgiven for being confused.

Read the entire entry at NCPA's Health Policy Blog.