Insurance coverage for cancer-detecting mammograms is to be switched over to the more stringent clinical practices of the United States, according to a new health bill tabled yesterday in Parliament.

In addition, the government insurance package known as the Standard Hospital Benefit (SHB) will be renamed the Standard Health Benefit in the process. The adjustment is part of a raft of SHB changes proposed by the Bermuda Health Council after a review of benefits.

Local health authorities recently decided to follow the clinical practices of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), and the switch was the subject of a conference earlier this month.

Mammography accounts for 30 per cent of all diagnostic imaging costs in Bermuda, Health Minister Jeanne Atherden said in Parliament.

Under the present regime, Bermuda’s health system follows the American College of Radiology guidelines for mammography which recommend annual screenings for all women aged over 40 years. The USPSTF guidelines call for “biennial screening for healthy, asymptomatic women aged 50 to 74 years”, Ms Atherden said. “Women with a family history or other risk factors will still be covered for testing with a physician referral. This will result in better use of scarce healthcare resources, while following best-practice international guidelines on screening.”

As a result, SHB coverage for screening mammograms will be “required to adhere to the USPSTF guidelines”.

Ms Atherden told the House that new standard benefits will be introduced under the Act to protect underinsured patients and promote cost-efficiency.

The second set of changes will concern the allowance for fees and utilisation and will add $2.73 to the Standard Premium Rate (SPR), while the third set of changes relate to the Mutual Reinsurance Fund and represent the largest increase to the SPR that amounts to $63.74.

“These changes will help us direct healthcare to more appropriate, cost-effective settings, and protect the subsidy budgets,” Ms Atherden said.• For the full ministerial statement, click on the PDF link under “Related Media”.