Health care law may hurt more than help

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By ERICA S. SPATZ, M.D. and JOSEPH S. ROSS, M.D.
HOUSTON CHRONICLE

As Washington debates health care legislation, a new law attempts to improve access to care, but only with respect to two diagnostic tests.

The Texas law that took effect this month mandates that health insurance companies cover two screening tests for heart disease — a CT scan of the chest and an ultrasound of the arteries in the neck. Each measures plaque build-up in an attempt to estimate the risk of having a heart attack or dying from cardiac disease. Insurance companies will have to cover these tests for men between the ages of 45 and 76 and women between the ages of 55 and 76, along with anyone who has diabetes or is at moderate risk for developing heart disease, as part of any health insurance plan.

More prevention. More insurance coverage. It sounds good. These are things we would like to see in our national health care bill. But, is it as good as it sounds?

Screening for heart disease with a CT scan or an ultrasound has never been scientifically proven to result in fewer heart attacks or to save lives. These tests are rarely used to screen healthy people for heart disease. Not because insurance plans do not cover the tests. But because most physicians do not believe these tests are a valuable screening tool for healthy people.

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Health care law may hurt more than help | Viewpoints, Outlook | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle