Medical Groups Urge Seniors to Skip 7 Routine Tests and Treatments as U.S. Waste Hits $765 Billion
Updated
Updated · Money Talks News · May 19
Medical Groups Urge Seniors to Skip 7 Routine Tests and Treatments as U.S. Waste Hits $765 Billion
1 articles · Updated · Money Talks News · May 19
Seven commonly used interventions—from repeat colonoscopies after 75 to long-term thyroid medication for borderline cases—offer many older adults little benefit and can cause harm, according to major U.S. medical groups and researchers.
The warning centers on age-shifted risk: colonoscopy complications sent nearly 7% of patients over 75 to the ER or hospital within a month, while prostate screening after 70 can trigger biopsies, overtreatment and lasting side effects.
Other recommendations question automatic mammograms after 75, Pap smears after 65 with adequate prior screening, antibiotics for symptom-free bacteria in urine, and removal of many actinic keratoses in frail elderly patients.
The broader concern is cost as well as safety: the National Academy of Medicine estimates $765 billion a year in U.S. medical spending is wasted on care that does not help patients, with seniors and Medicare bearing much of the burden.
The report urges older adults to press doctors on necessity and tradeoffs, asking what happens if a test is skipped and whether the likely benefit still outweighs the risks at their age.
Are your routine medical checkups for 'prevention' actually putting you in danger?
Your doctor recommends a test, but could saying 'no' be the healthier choice?