While the medical community
debates a U.S. task force's recommendation against PSA screening for prostate
cancer, the implications are far broader: The task force's methodology for
subjectively balancing benefit and harm is being applied to all preventive
services and diagnostics and can influence Medicare coverage decisions.
The U.S.
Preventive Services Task Force, which began seeking public comment on
its draft recommendation on Oct. 11, reviewed published studies and concluded
the mortality benefit of PSA screening is small to none, while the rates of
overdiagnosis and overtreatment based on PSA tests are substantial.