Medicare screenings, vaccines underused

Few beneficiaries take advantage of coverage for preventive health care services, a GAO report says.

By Markian Hawryluk, AMNews staff. June 17, 2002.

Washington -- Despite Medicare coverage for certain screenings and immunizations, use of preventive services varies widely by service and state, according to a new General Accounting Office report.

From 1995 through 1999, the rate of flu and pneumonia immunization, as well as breast and cervical cancer screening, increased steadily, the GAO found. But rates between services varied greatly. For example, 75% of women had received mammograms within the previous two years, but only 55% of beneficiaries were immunized against pneumonia.

Congress has added coverage for preventive services on a case-by-case basis. Medicare now covers 10 different screenings or immunizations, having added coverage for glaucoma testing for high-risk beneficiaries this year. For most services, Medicare requires some cost-sharing, although many beneficiaries have additional insurance that covers most, if not all, of their out-of-pocket costs.

All four of the preventive health services studied in the GAO report had utilization rates of more than 50%, but fewer beneficiaries received multiple preventive services. For example, more than 90% of female Medicare beneficiaries received at least one preventive service, but only 10% were screened for cervical, breast and colon cancer, as well as receiving flu and pneumonia immunizations. [...]