Members TampaYankee Posted June 3, 2014 Members Posted June 3, 2014 Simple Tests for Heart Attack Risk Could Save Lives and Money By Lisa Collier CoolJun 02, 2014 Thousands of heart attacks and strokes could be prevented—and millions of dollars in healthcare costs saved—if doctors used a new, more accurate screening strategy to identify at-risk patients, according to new research presented at the International Society of PharmacoEconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Annual Meeting in Quebec. The study was the first to analyze clinical and financial outcomes of adding a multimarker blood test to standard cholesterol testing. The new test checks a sample of the patient’s blood for three inflammatory biomarkers that may signal future heart attack and stroke risk. Each biomarker test costs $20 to $50. Researchers from Cleveland HeartLab (CHL) and economists from Analysis Group calculated that if a commercially insured U.S. health plan with one million members adopted this approach, 2,018 heart attacks and 1,848 strokes could potentially be avoided, resulting in $180.6 million in cost savings over five years, compared to outcomes if standard screening methods were used. See the complete article at: http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/simple-tests-heart-attack-risk-could-save-lives-and-180-million Quote
Guest PasadenaCA Posted June 4, 2014 Posted June 4, 2014 The problem is that people don't seem to be used to offering to pay for things that aren't covered. Doctors often don't offer. Quote
Guest EXPAT Posted June 4, 2014 Posted June 4, 2014 My doctor is obsessed with these tests and requires as them as part of my physical every year. Quote
Guest PasadenaCA Posted June 5, 2014 Posted June 5, 2014 My doctor is obsessed with these tests and requires as them as part of my physical every year. That's good. It's worth asking him or her what tests are recommended over and above those offered by ignorance ompanies. Quote
