New proposals affecting insurance coverage for mammograms were again defended by Health Minister Jeanne Atherden yesterday.

Coverage is to be switched over to the more stringent clinical practices of the United States, according to a new Bill.

In addition, the government insurance package known as the Standard Hospital Benefit (SHB) will be renamed the Standard Health Benefit.

Ms Atherden told the House of Assembly yesterday that the health system in Bermuda informally followed the American College of Radiology’s guidelines for mammography, which recommend annual screenings for women over the age of 40.

“A clinical review of various international guidelines from several countries has proposed changing the Bermuda standard to follow the United States Preventive Services task force guidelines, which recommend that healthy, asymptomatic women aged 50 to 74 years be screened every two years,” she said.

“The guidelines are recommendations which review, analyse, interpret and then report the evidence from a multitude of studies conducted by international subject experts.

“Regrettably, a health screening recommendation intended to improve the health of women by reducing their exposure to the risks of over diagnosis has been misinterpreted.

“This Government is not introducing legislation telling Bermudian women they can only have a mammogram once every two years and it is misleading to suggest that having mammograms once every two years will cause death by delay.”

Ms Atherden told MPs that if a doctor ordered a mammogram more frequently, it would be covered by insurance.

“Women with a family history or other risk factors will still be covered for testing with a physician referral at any age,” she said. “This amendment seeks to ensure that women obtain their physician’s input in the decision to use this technology in young ages where the science indicates that the benefits do not outweigh the risks.”

Responding to questions posed by Shadow Health Minister Kim Wilson — who was dressed in pink yesterday to demonstrate her concerns about Government’s position — Ms Atherden said: “The real concern is that in trying to save lives, you’re actually doing more harm.”

Answering questions from Progressive Labour Party MP Derrick Burgess, Ms Atherden confirmed that Bermuda had experienced an increase in breast cancer in the past three years. There was some debate about which age groups the rise in cancer had occurred in.

Ms Atherden said: “If a woman has a consultation with her doctor, she will be able to determine what is appropriate for her.

“If a doctor refers an individual every year, that person will have a mammogram every year.”

Ms Wilson asked Ms Atherden if not giving asymptomatic women between the ages of 40 and 49 a mammogram as a standard policy meant that the new legislation was discriminatory against women in that age group.

Ms Atherden said that if a woman in that age group was able to convince her doctor to order a mammogram, then she would receive one.

“We want women to have a discussion with their doctor. There are risks associated with mammograms,” she said.

“We believe in healthy people in healthy communities.”

• For the full ministerial statement, click on the PDF link under “Related Media”.