In a Healthcare Bill that will cost $940 billion over 10-years, Congress, through the reconciliation bill must find a way to save $2 billion over the first five years.  Why stop at $2 billion?  Why not introduce a “manager’s amendment” that will save this country $21 billion annually ($105 billion over the first five years and $210 billion over 10-years).  Mandate heart screenings to be covered, at no out of pocket cost to all Americans, age 45 and over.

Texas, in mid 2009, passed state specific legislation that is expected to save $1.6 billion annually (in Texas alone).  A Healthcare Bill “manager’s amendment” could be drafted using the Texas legislation as a model to follow.  Here’s a few statistics based on a study that led to the 2009 Texas legislation (please also note the U.S. wide statistics, prevent 90,000 deaths and save $21 billion annually):

An analysis by the SHAPE Task Force estimates that proper screening of these asymptomatic men and women could have the following outcomes:

• Prevent more than 4,300 deaths from cardiovascular disease each year in Texas (over 90,000 deaths in the U.S.).

• Reduce the Texas population with a history of heart attack - currently estimated to be 550,000 - by as much as 25 percent.

• Save approximately $1.6 billion annually (over 21 billion in the U.S.).

More on the legislation passed in Texas follows:

Texas Heart Attack Prevention Bill (http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/HB01290F.pdf):

Sec.A1376.003.AAMINIMUM COVERAGE REQUIRED. (a) A health benefit plan that provides coverage for screening medical

procedures must provide the minimum coverage required by this section to each covered individual:

(1)AAwho is:

(A)AAa male older than 45 years of age and younger than 76 years of age; or

(B)AAa female older than 55 years of age and younger than 76 years of age; and

(2)AAwho:

(A)AAis diabetic; or

(B)AAhas a risk of developing coronary heart disease, based on a score derived using the Framingham Heart Study

coronary prediction algorithm, that is intermediate or higher.

(b)AAThe minimum coverage required to be provided under this section is coverage of up to $200 for one of the following

noninvasive screening tests for atherosclerosis and abnormal artery structure and function every five years, performed by a

laboratory that is certified by a national organization recognized by the commissioner by rule for the purposes of this section:

(1)AAcomputed tomography (CT) scanning measuring coronary artery calcification; or

(2)AAultrasonography measuring carotid intima-media thickness and plaque.

Excerpts from: Heart Experts: Texas Gov. Perry Can Save Thousands of Lives, Reduce Healthcare Costs

http://www.ptca.org/news/2009/0528_SHAPE.html

The bill passed by Texas lawmakers would require reimbursement of up to $200 for certain approved screening tests for men between ages 45 and 75, and women between ages 55 and 75, who are at intermediate risk of a heart attack according to their Framingham Risk Score.

Approved screening procedures include: 1) the measurement of coronary artery calcium score (CACS) by CT; and 2) the measurement of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and plaque by ultrasonography.

These two non-invasive screening tests have proven by the National Health Institute studies to be strong predictors of those who are vulnerable to a heart attack or stroke.

According to an analysis extrapolated from the SHAPE Task Force Report (published in the American Journal of Cardiology July 2006), the preventive screening of asymptomatic men and women could have the following outcomes:

• Prevent      more than 4,300 deaths from cardiovascular disease each year in Texas.
• Reduce      the history of heart attack– currently estimated to be 1.4 million – by as      much as 25 percent in the Texas Population.
• Save      approximately $1.6 billion in healthcare costs annually.

"At one time, using imaging technologies, like mammography and colonoscopy, to screen for cancer seemed like an impractical idea, but after reimbursement approval, they have become part of everyday medicine and have saved countless lives," said Dr. Harvey Hecht, a prominent preventive cardiologist at the Lenox Hill Heart and Vascular Institute in New York, who is also a member of the SHAPE Task Force.

The mission of SHAPE is to promote education and research related to mechanism, prevention, detection, and treatment of heart attacks. The organization is committed to raising public awareness about recent revolutionary discoveries that opened exciting new avenues to prevent heart attack. SHAPE’s mission is to eradicate heart attacks in the 21st century. Additional information is available on the organization's Web site at www.shapesociety.org or call 1-877-SHAPE11