Tag: blood tests

Blood tests can lead to a cancer diagnosis and treatments that may do more harm than good.

Posted on by bill
Blood tests can lead to a cancer diagnosis and treatments that may do more harm than good. Early cancer screens are an idea whose time has come.    While the early diagnosis may lead to lifesaving treatment, it may also lead to treatments and procedures that do more harm than good. Doctors had known this for years before medical journals advised not running PSA tests in males older than 75.    These slow-growing cancers are often not why people in these age groups die, and many who underwent surgeries or radiation were left with impotence and some like my dad Read More »

High costs for some covid-19 tests are just because they can.

Posted on by bill
High costs for some covid-19 tests are just because they can. The NY Times recently reported on a lab that had charged $380 for a covid test.  Your local CVS probably charges $20. The company which is a start-up named GS labs regularly charges $380 because they legally can. Welcome to healthcare capitalism American style. If this is not a strong argument for the government to play a role in healthcare prices, I am not sure there ever will be. Apparently,  GS labs who is headquartered in Nebraska is giving insurers and the public the business literally. Congress probably never Read More »