This is a good thing for our female military and veterans who are covered by Tricare.
Source: Military Times
Tricare is expanding its breast cancer screening coverage this month.
Starting on May 29, Tricare will cover Digital Breast Tomosynthesis — known as 3D mammography or DBT —under its provisional coverage program, according to Republican Sen. Martha McSally from Arizona.
“This is a major victory for our female service members and veterans covered under Tricare. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women, but when detected early the overall chances of survival increase dramatically.”
Sen. Martha mcSally
R-AZ
“Women in our armed forces now have access to the best preventative breast cancer screenings,” McSally said. “I’m glad the Defense Department heard our repeated calls for change and implemented this commonsense policy.”
All women over the age of 40 are eligible for coverage. Annual coverage will also be available to women 30 and older who are deemed a high risk for developing breast cancer. That means women who have a history of breast cancer have at least a 15 percent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer based on risk assessment tools, or have extremely dense breasts, among several other identified risk factors.
Although other national payers including the Department of Veterans Affairs and Medicare already cover 3D mammograms, Tricare has historically only covered the procedure following the detection of a lump during two-dimensional imaging.
According to the Pentagon’s updated policy, provisional coverage of 3D mammograms is slated to last at least until Dec. 31, 2024. But the coverage could become permanent if the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends 3D mammograms as the primary screening method for breast cancer.
Federal regulations require Tricare to adhere to USPSTF recommendations for screening measures — hence why Tricare only extended provisional coverage for 3D mammograms and it’s not a permanent benefit, according to McCaffery.
“This provisional coverage can be extended for up to five years, during which time we are hopeful that the USPSTF will recommend DBT for breast cancer screenings,”
Thomas McAffery
Asst Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Tricare users are eligible for a reimbursement if they received a 3D mammogram between Jan. 1, 2020, and May 29, 2020.
3D Mammograms Covered by Tricare Starting This Month
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