Dana,
I have not been able to find the full text of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association study by the BC/BS Technology Evaluation Center as of yet.
The Wall Street Journal had some interesting points in an article which appeared this morning however. Here are a few excerpts;
...The cost effectiveness study by the Blue Cross/Blue Shield's Technology Evaluation Center examined Cytyc's test and two automated slide-reading systems made by NeoPath Inc. and Neuromedical Systems Inc.
The tests are designed to increase the accuracy of cervical-cancer screening. But Dr. Alan Garber, the study's senior author, said all three technologies offered only a "modest" improvement in accuracy compared with conventional tests.
Cervical cancer is usually a slow-growing disease, Dr. Garber said, meaning most women who have regular Pap tests "will have their abnormalities detected in time." As a result, he said, the new tests are likely to increase average life expectancy by only a few days for women who are screened frequently.
The cost of the new tests might limit access to cervical-cancer screening for poorer women, who are most at risk, Dr. Garber said. The study recommends wider use of traditional Pap tests and improved laboratory standards...
Eva Snitkin, analyst at NationsBanc Montgomery Securities, said the study could slow the acceptance of the Cytyc test among insurers, which are resistant to tripling their $500 million annual spending for cervical-cancer screening. But Ms. Snitkin said she doubts insurers that already have accepted the test, including 16 Blue Cross affiliates, will rescind their approvals."
Frank |
