A new study of over 1,600 current or eligible U.S. Medicare recipients shows that nearly half of women who report for screening have not received a mammogram in the last three years.
The research, led by the Radiology Patient Action Network, also found that 80% of Americans are concerned with proposed cuts to Medicare, and 90% view maintaining Medicare coverage as important.
Network leaders said these results show that the U.S. Congress should take note of these findings and protect Medicare. Almost half of the study's respondents said they would be less likely to support a member of Congress if they advocate for cuts.
Also, one in four current patients reported having difficulty scheduling doctors' appointments due to delays or rescheduling.
These results corroborate findings from other recent studies showing that many women are not receiving their recommended mammograms.
The survey was conducted between 25 September and 27 September and included 1,632 Americans either enrolled in Medicare or Medicare-eligible. The study was jointly sponsored by the Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA), Imaging for a Cause, and the Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA). It was conducted by the Remington Research Group.
