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“Tests Save Money and Lives,” Says RFL on Washingtonpost.com

Part of health care realism also involves asking how well the old canards about “unneeded” and “dubious” testing and procedures jibe with today’s reality [“Health Care Realism,” Robert J. Samuelson, September 10, 2008]. In fact, as recent studies by RAND point out, the bigger problem today is that diagnostics are under-utilized —not over-utilized. A RAND study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found significant under-use of sound, well-established procedures, such as screening for colorectal, cervical, and breast cancer.

In diabetes, cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer and breast cancer, the National Committee for Quality Assurance linked insufficient compliance with diagnostics-based quality measures to 56,200 avoidable adverse health events and up to 34,000 avoidable deaths.

In some cases, recommended diagnostic use has enabled 30-50% reductions in direct hospital and outpatient charges by detecting key changes in health status, allowing adjustment of treatment to improve health outcomes.

Today’s health care ‘realism’ is that diagnostic tests can screen, prevent, monitor, manage, and even help guide physicians to the most effective treatment. There’s nothing dubious or unneeded about it – these tests save money and they save lives.

Sincerely,

Alan Mertz
President
American Clinical Laboratory Association