PAMF Statement on Mammogram Recommendations

November 2009
You may have heard about the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force this week revising its screening recommendations for breast cancer. Palo Alto Medical Foundation physicians have prepared the following response for patients and the community, who may have questions on what this means at PAMF. Additionally, please feel free to contact your doctor directly with any questions or concerns.

A patient's decision to include mammograms and breast self-exams as part of her routine preventive care is a personal one that should take into account patient preference and the physician's judgment of clinical factors, such as family history.

Whether or not health insurance covers mammography should not be the deciding factor. We believe the California law requiring insurance coverage of mammography is a good law that leaves the decision to the patient and physician and is consistent with our commitment to provide high-quality, compassionate and personalized care to our patients.