Amidst ongoing debate in Congress over reforming the nation's health care system, a new report from the Lewin Group finds that screening and diagnostic laboratory tests are central to achieving some of the most important goals of health care reform.
According to the report, tests for such conditions as diabetes, cervical cancer, drug-resistant infections, and metastatic colon cancer are enabling important strides in early detection and diagnosis, as well as in helping physicians select treatments that will work most effectively for patients. The net result is often better health outcomes for patients and greater savings and economic efficiencies for the health system--all key goals of health reform. The report was released today in a briefing at the National Press Club in Washington D.C.
"Screening and diagnostic tests contribute to health care value across the spectrum of care," says the report. It addresses the cost and clinical implications of lab testing by focusing on four areas: