Show #441 Airing Sunday, 7/20/08
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away." It’s amazing – our great-grandmothers understood the value of preventive medicine, long before researchers figured it out! Here today to compare apples to oranges and talk about preventive medicine in the 21st century is Dr. Alice Petrulis, medical director of KePRO.
Question: What exactly is preventive medicine and can it really make a difference in our health?
Answer: Preventive medicine refers to medications and procedures that can either prevent an illness completely or screen for the illness, hoping to catch it in its early stages. The hope is that doing so can change the course of a disease and give you a better outcome. That’s why Medicare covers numerous screenings and preventive vaccinations.
Question: What prevention methods are out there?
Answer: Prevention usually points to immunizations/vaccinations.
Those 65 and over should receive a pneumonia vaccine, as well as those with chronic diseases such as kidney disease or lung disease.
Medicare beneficiaries should get a flu shot every flu season.
Those beneficiaries at high risk, such as those who have End Stage Renal Disease or have hemophilia should be vaccinated against Hepatitis B.
Question: What screenings should people get that may be covered by Medicare?
Answer: Screening services are to detect disease early, in hopes for a better outcome. To that end, Medicare covers, or partly covers, a great deal of screenings:
- Women in the Medicare population should be getting mammograms on a yearly basis.
- All women are also covered for pap tests and pelvic exams every 24 months.
- Men over the age of 50 should be tested for prostate cancer. The test is comprised of a blood test. Medicare beneficiaries are covered for one test every 12 months.
- Tests for colorectal cancer, including occult fecal blood testing, sigmoidoscopies, and colonoscopies, are either fully or partially covered for Medicare beneficiaries. One should start these tests at age 50.
- Diabetic screenings are important for those with a family history, and those who are hypertensive and/or obese. Medicare covers up to 2 screenings per year.
- Those women who are 65 or older or if between 61 and 65 at high risk because of a long history of steroid use or a family history should be screened for bone density. Medicare will cover one screening each 24 months. The procedure called a DEXA bone density uses a device that looks like a CAT scan, and a measurement of the hip or spine are taken.
Question: I understand that new Medicare enrollees have a special "Welcome to old age" bonus available.
Answer: New enrollees to Medicare have 6 months to get a Welcome to Medicare Physical Exam, allowing their doctor to do an overall check-up. At this time, the doctor may also recommend an ultra-sound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm screening.
Question: How can our viewers learn more?
Answer: They can call Ohio KePRO to receive this free brochure on Medicare’s Preventive Services: Understanding Your Benefits.
No excuses! What’s preventing you from taking action? Give Ohio KePRO a call to receive a free brochure on Medicare’s preventive services. The number’s next. My thanks to Dr. Alice Petrulis.
