Hey everyone: Erica, David (Indiana), friends and bloggers!

Happy Monday!!!!

I watched all of the Sun shows, and it sounds like a way to cut coverage and change procedures to reduce costs and care. Less testing will lower cost whether they are needed or not-so much for new changes.

Hi Erica, good to see you in the big chair!! Hello Team 360 too.

Hi fellow bloggers.

This info reported by Randi-Kaye is outrageous!!

Happy "Turkey Week" Everyone!!

Hopefully this mammogram confusion would clear up later on this week!

Could you please at least state that the task force was founded by the BUSH administration. Just trying to keep you honest though at this point I don't know if that is possible.

This is incredible, the same task force making 'recommendations' is in the middle of writing the law.

You guys have it all wrong – the Task Force was not organized by this current administration. It was formed by the Bush administration. Also, this administration did not have a chance to read the recommendation before it was published. Please get the facts correct – this issue is far too great to mislead people.

I cannot believe what Randi-Kaye just reported! This is unbelieveable! Think of the number of women who would not be alive today if they did not have a mammogram or do monthly self exams! I know of too many women who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer that wouldn't be alive today if they hadn't been proactive in their own health. What will they try to take away from us next?

That was a low blow when Randy said the breast mammography panel came from Sabelis's department ... you should have given credit where credit was due and at least let viewer know the non-experts appointed to that panel was done by the Bush administration.

What is the name of the senate health care bill?

Good evening everyone! Thank God I got away from that football game~

HELLO, ERICA.
signing a little late but wanted to give you some gurl support !!!

As A Nurse Practitioner in the Department of General Surgery I am amazed at this so-called revised recommendations. The increase in my practice of women from there upper 30's to mid 40's has increased due to early findings on self breast exams followed by mammograms. If the committee doubts this fact, let them spend a week with me seeing these patients

Craig kalthoff MSN, RNP-C
Registered Nurse Practitioner

Thank you Andrew & Kay.

I know i was unaware that this was created by Bush.

I have to say it sounded off tone for this Administration. However, i am still concerned about how uneducated non medical senators will know or understand what is necessary regarding testing and other medical issues.

You are missing one important point – the have nots. Those woman who have NO healthcare! So your uproar over mamograms missing an entire segment of society. I am one of those woman & not one of you ever mention this segment of society. The people with health insurance are so self centered they can't see the forest for the trees. It's outrageous to me to see how this segment is ignored. Where is the uproar? No, just when it affects the Haves is there an uproar! OUTRAGEOUS. rationing? We already have rationing. Not being able to be covered with health insurance is rationing. Death squads – yup, those too. We are the forgotten. This makes me so angry.

We were flat out lied to, they said this board would have no influence in the health care debate. I don't care who set the board up, they made that statement, and now it turns out not to be true. First the abortion restrictions, then mammogram restrictions, add in the pap smear testing, and we'll get healthcare on the backs of women. How can anyone trust this administration. They say one thing and than bury the truth deep in the bill. Outrageous!

It seems that there is an extreme increase in incidents of breast cancer. Could it be something in our food or water or air?

Good evening Erica, Isabel. Lots of important pts in this rept and in the panel discussion. Care shld be driven by patient and physician, UPSTF recommends against self exams too, and HHS Sec is caught in the middle of a contradiction. One upshot is the impression that UPSTF could be setting care guidelines for health ins under forthcoming HCR legislation. Situation is different when the panel recommends to a largely private ins industry.

If I hadn't had my annual mammogram when I was over 50, I would not be here today to write this comment. My cancer was caught early ONLY because I had an annual mammogram.

I would not be alive today under new guidelines. Katheleen Sebelius and Obama administration should be ashamed of themselvesf for
politicizing BRCA. Cancer is not a political issue unless we accept nationalized rationalized healthcare bill. Dems and Reps should be able to agree on that.

I certainly hope you can get back to the issue that Gloria Steinem brought up – 1 in 8 women get breast cancer but 1 in 3 need an abortion. I understand it is a contentious issue – always has been and always will be – and I hope that some organization (NOW, Planned Parenthood) can step up and take the heat off Congress to help those 1 in 3 women (many in their teens) that need an abortion at some time in their life.

I am 23 yrs old and I shudder to think of the ramifications of this bill on my country and women all over the world. Ms Steinem's idea of individualized care is quite noble as well.

Health care is ALREADY rationed by how much money you can afford to pay. Come on, wake up people – the health insurance industry MUST be regulated and their current practices of the best health care for only the elite must end. Shouldn't all Americans receive the best care? And why did Congress (under Reagan-Bush) make health care related companies exempt from anti-trust laws? Because they (Repubs & Dems) are highly paid by the health care industry! The industry mission is to make money rather than care for people; this should be a public service rather than the corporate conglomerate it has become, health care reform is imperative.

Good evening everyone.

Can you please explain the reasons of the task force to change the guidelines? Can you please make explain, contrary what most Americans believe, that more care is not always better?
In addition to breast cancer survivors, can you interview as well the women that suffered because of cancer care that was not necessary and care that caused harm and damage by itself?
Want to talk about women's issues in health care? Why do women pay more insurance premiums than men?

So I understand that the bill says procedures labeled as A and B can not be denied, but where does it say that those in category C can be? I keep hearing that the task force said not to get mammograms but whe I read the report it said that procedures should be developed be the patient and doctor on an individual basis. The way I read that is that rather than require every woman over 40 to get a mammogram, it allows that each woman develop an individualized plan with their doctor to fit her needs.

Where does Gloria get that abortion stat? I believe it's " will have" not "need."

and when you google it the same stat is quoted for uk and Aussie women...

You might want to do some checking on the stat

@ christopher..health care insurance reform.

One thing being overlooked in the current discussion on mammograms is that currently insurance companies are standing between patients and their doctors. My mother was a breast cancer survivor but her insurance company would not pay for annual mammograms.

My wife has been fighting breast cancer for 8 yrs. found it during self exam at age 36. now stage 3. on 24/7 pain IV. bones in leg attacked. this panel rights her off as an acceptable lose! this health care plan does as well.

Hi Erica! Good to see such an intelligent and appropriate group of women discussing this subject. Very informative. Like others have said, please point out that these are not the Obama guidelines!

Women are never going to be treated right in the U.S.'s healthcare system, It is not meant for women, children, or any other people but white men. White men are used as the base for the norms in our healthcare system, that is why they miss so many symptoms in everyone else, that is why so many suffer and die.

Isn't it obvious that this was a trial balloon for the continually denied accusation of inevitable rationing once the government gets involved in healthcare decisions? Forget the politics. Deal with rationing now.

Did she say womb? sperm? and testicles? And I thought this might be zzzzzzzz

Cammie explain to me why Bush setting up this panel matters. It was the Obama administration that said they were to gold standard in making these kinds of recommendations. and it was the Obama administration that said they would have no say in setting guidelines, and it's in their bill that they do. How exactly is that Bush's fault. This was Kathleen Sebelious either willfully misleading us, or not knowing what she is talking about. Bush is guilty of a lot, but not this, this is an Obama administration screw up

Cammie

Your point is well stated. We do need to provide health care for everyone.

However, appropriate medical treatment, etc. Is an important issue for everyone. Under this bill, You hopefully will received insurance and you should care too, that your insurance covers what is medically appropriate for You.

Sounds like they are picking on women issues. Will more than undo all thats been done in preventive care. Government has health insurance plans in place such as Child Health Plus and pro rated to income plans.Perhaps they could give Federal money to hospitals that treat patients and have to absorb costs.

Today my 40 year old friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. It's the size of pea. If she waited till she was 50. My friend would of died.

I'd love to do away with mamograms. It's NOT a pleasant test. However, it saved my life by catching my breast cancer at age 41. Don't dismiss it's effectiveness – find a better way to detect cancer earlier!

@ Jeri The panel was created by the Bush Administration not the Obama Administration! Get you facts straight!

It really doesn't matter who formed any task force. I'm not a fab of Bush but the fact is he is no longer President. Obama became in charge of the Executive Branch and it's employees and has had almost a year to either disband or replace the members of the task force. Likewise, the President is the policy maker in the Executive Branch; Bush lost that ability when Obama took office. At what point do we stop blaming Bush for the Obama administration's job performance?

Hi Erica! good evening all... where's AC?

Why SHOULDN'T plastic surgery be taxed when it's elective?

@steve- virginia beach, va but it is still made up of the people that Bush put in there.

wow..lieberman, and the repub...that is what this bill is about the public option, we the ppl..are the public..millions go to work every day and don't have insurance for their self or children.. public john q me..needs that option.

These breast cancer guidelines were deliberated on some time ago, under the Bush Administration. Now everyone thinks this emanated from the Obama Administration.

The timing of the release of these guidelines was very suspicious–and the conservatives have been trying to link this to the Democrat's health plan. I think this is political trickery from the right wing.

The United States has to take some lessons from Canada when it come's to health-care. Yes,the United States is so much bigger than Canada and with that said...Canada does have the best health care here.Why are so many people against having a health care system? You think it's bad in the U.S.A for high unemployment,keep in mind...Canada is your neighbour and we too have high unemployment here!!Presently,our unemployment is 8.6%. Always remember,whatever happens in the USA also affects Canada too! Please people...Obama is trying to do the best he can! Please get a health care system going! Your mind & body will thank-you for it!

@Nancy. My thoughts exactly.

We need to stop the U.S.'s patchwork healthcare system, and go with a single payer system, by moving our taxes up to 40% for everyone so that everyone is covered. We are spending so much money and getting far less then everyone else in the world, because our system is profit based, end that and cost will go down!

Have we totally forgotten about how many people get to the point of cancer.
We need to look at the food industry that fills our plates with junk. The industries that are all about the almighty dollar not our health promotion ideas. The chemicals used in our lands where the food is grown. Have you seen the "new" diseases that the pharmacuical companies have invented so we can become even sicker from the side effects?
My guestion is why in this time are they so many women with breast cancer? How can we learn to take better care of our health? Not by popping pills or having more and more x-rays but better nutritional choices, air to breathe and water that is clean.
Really we need to educate our selves on health promotion not allow the fear of the disease care systems we have in place now in this country.

Tisk tisk Mr.Sanperv

breast cancer is better detected with ultra sound, and if a cancer is detected through mamogram, an ultra sound is done. in other countries like england that have public heathcare only use ultrasounds. i refuse to get a mamogram, for 2 reasons the barbaric tratment and the fact that it gets alot of false negitives. well we are only women, we are use to abuse by men. as far as i am concerned the medical community is against wellness, they dont make money if u are well

Shannon,
This report took 16moths to compile. How was it constituted by Obama? Truth be told.

Question
Health care bill. You have pointed out problems with the bill that is in congress now. You have said that certain things are not covered in this new bill. My question to you is the people in congress have health coverage now because of the federal jobs. Are the congress men and women covered under the federal insurance program ? If the new health insurance coverage is not the same or better then the federal employees then all federal coverage should be terminated, until a comprise is reached. After all the tax payers are footing the bill now.

It sounds like the movie "Awake".

Scary to know that you can hear them but not respond...locked in.

I hope non of those people said anything bad around him...he will know.

I’m sick and tired of the Republicans they should live this country because in my opinion they do not care about the citizen of this country, we need a PUBLIC OPTION this will make the insurance company’s comparative we are so close to get it done but they just looking for all kind of excuses I’m done with them and they way they think,

One of the problems in government is that they don't designate enough funding to audit programs & task forces that they set up. I'm an accountant and it blows my mind how irresponsible this is, private businesses would not survive if they operated in this manner. Medicare is a mess because they are not audited for errors, they could create a lot of jobs by hiring the necessary auditors and overseers as they do in private business and they would save billions.

Are we stepping back in time? This is a human right that should be covered thru our ins health reform!I have a Mother and two Sisters who are alive today because of early detection! Go find something else to cut back on! What are you afraid of ? That we won't need your high priced cancer drugs! I am sickened by the thought of this sick idea!

England healthcare system rocks, man the doctor even come to your home and you do not pay out of pocket, since it's single payer, and it came out of taxes. We have a total mess here in the U.S.! Someone even come out and cooks, and cleans for you, and does your laundry for you and baby sit too! We are so far behind the time with that sorry argument of socialism. Almost every thing in the U.S. is socialism, like the police, the U.S. military, Fire department, Roads, Bridges, Snow Removal and many many other. We all pay for those services out of our taxes, and guess what that is socialism!

Ms Healy makes a good pt, if the US is leading in treating and diagnosing cancer then possibly that part of healthcare is working well.

Ok yes, there is a minefield sort of as you and Tom Foreman are discussing. But if you strip the legislation down to the increases in medicaid and medicare accessibility that are there I think in all the dem versions of this, and requiring ins companies to insure people w/ preexisting conditions you have something where both parties can come together.

Some incredibly lucky Rhodes scholars.

Recommendations as to the effectiveness of particular medical tests, drugs, or procedures is not the "beginning" of health care rationing–rationing has always been done by the insurance companies. The question is whether it is better to have rationing imposed by persons looking primarily at effectiveness or by an insurance cmpany that evaluates cost as being as equally or more important than results and that also has a profit motive in the resulting decision.

Holding a civilian trial for an act of war is just asking for trouble.

I'm glad I don't live in NYC. I think those trials will be a circus. I wonder what secrets will be exposed.

The USPSTF has been around for 25 years, this task force has many recommendations, from Alcohol abuse to vision screening. CNN is not correct in its reporting on the USPSTF breast cancer screening recommendations. Why is CNN making the breast cancer screening recommendations more important than any other recommendation provided by the USPSTF for the past 25 years? Science has been the guide behind these recommendations, not politics or cost! Breast Cancer screening has become marketable and profitable, so it is a shame that these recommendations (Breast Cancer Screening) are being used by misinformed news organizations (CNN) and politicians. Women need to talk with their physicians about the harm and benefit of having mammograms and keep misinformed news organizations and politicians out of science based recommendations.

If Wars are between countries, which country are we at war with?

I am tired of hearing from Mr. Cheney. He and his boss had 7 yrs. to take care of this problem their way....they Didn't.

So Mr. Cheney should stay out of this administration's plans to Deal with the problems that He & Bush left behind unsolved.

I have very mixed feelings about a "trial" especially in NYC, But these issues need to be resolved somehow and Soon.

@Jeffrey Tobin, these terrorists could have their say on the witness stand in a military tribunal too. The rules for evidence are less severe in military tribunals, and security can be maintained for secrets.

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and died at age 34. That was in the 60s before mammograms. I was 10 years old. There was no history of cancer in the family. One of my co workers is battling breast cancer at this moment and she is under 40. Thank goodness she has health insurance . That alone makes me question the so called data this study is based on. It is clear that this report has nothing to do
with saving lives just saving the insurance companies money.

All medical tests and procedures should be reviewed for effectiveness–with the goal of achieving better medical outcomes. When controversial recommendations are made, a process needs to be put in place to bring subject matter experts to the table to agree on any formal recommendations. The panel serves an important role to initiate the discussion, but the decision shouldn't end there on controversial issues.

Even if they are said to be not guilty, it's been said that they will not be set free.

Did it ever dawn on anybody that by continuing to drag this whole trial issue on and on and on (thank you Deck Cheney) that we're doing a dis-service to the families and friends of those who died on 9/11? How utterly selfish.

Aww Erica we have missed you! Good to see Randi Kaye too!

If any of them go free Holder and Obama belong in GITMO.

We have wasted loads of tax $ and reputation holding these criminals at Gitmo. They should be tried as fast as we arrest them in civilian or military courts either open or closed court in chambers. We have done it before with great success. Britain, Spain among other countries try them in civilian courts. Why make them feel special? We are doing exactly what they want to feel. Kill their ego by trying them as normal criminals and move on to the next chapter!

The validity of our entire system of justice cannot be applied selectively just because the defendant is full of venom. So what if these 9/11 defendants want to rant about the US. Aren't we better than that? It's just precious that Cheney weighs in on this... just precious.

Hi, everyone – better late than never!

@Mike, formerly from Syracuse are you serious...they already said they regardless of the verdict they won't go free.....

@Anne Toronto, Canada

Well stated!!

Hi everyone,

Happy Thanksgiving week!

Love,
Mindy

Erica, thank you so much for filling in for Anderson. You did a terrific job with the Gloria Steinem interview, and I think you're a top-notch anchor and love to see you in the chair when AC can't be there. You're the best.

Erica,
As a health care provider, i must say that the best thing our congress can do to stem the cost of health care is to eliminate the advertisements from drug companies and to make the current health insurers more accountable for our health. The cost of health care lies in the hands of insurance companies and drug companies. Did you know that the United States and New Zealand are the only two countries in the WORLD that allow drug companies to advertise like they do. Also, with all of the insurance companies trying to maximize their profits, they have become the ones who tell doctors and patients what can be used for everyone. Why go to medical school if an insurance company is going to tell you what you can write? That is where health care reform needs to focus!! Please share this. I am on the front lines of health care and these points are of most concern for all of us. The only problem is that drug companies and insurances own our senators and representatives. Change is desperately needed!! Thanks
P.S. Cialis has given a porcelain tub bad name.

I don't think the trials will be in NYC unless the terrorists want them to be. It would be too easy to argue that an impartial jury can't be seated in NYC.

@Susan Spaulding It's fair for Randi Kaye to hold Secy. Sebelius accountable for a panel convened by HHS. I do believe panel member do have extensive medical and public health qualifications though as far as I can tell there is indeed not Oncologist or Radiologist on the panel now. I think the panel comes together and has done so for almost a couple decades now.

Pt about route of appeal is important. How would military tribunals do that? Pres and Attorney Gen. seeming to guarantee a conviction could be compromising. I feel challenges at this pt aren't so much political football but are thrusts back and forth in earnest.

That is an amazing story! Always good info from Dr.Gupta!

I find it very telling that those conservatives who strut their patriotism and pride in American ideals have so little confidence that the American justice system will work

I was participating in pet therapy and my dog made a man in a vegetative state respond. Very moving.

Hi Erica, you look good in the "chair" and Rand-Kaye is a terrific compliment.

This medical story is really frightening.
In nursing school we were instructed to always speak to people who were in comas as they well could be concious and hear you.

I used to tell coma patients the local and national news, sports, family messages etc.
I never had anyone wake up but due to this story, i'm glad i did what i did.

@Brandon, if a verdict of not guilty will be ignored, then let's save the money and just execute them. There is no doubt of their guilt.

Yes, the ladies of 360 are taking over

Thank goodness Jeff Toobin is there to debunk the hysteria about the trials for the 9-11 bombers. As he said, this is a chance to show that the US is a nation of laws, and that we have nothing to fear by giving anyone–whoever they are and regardless of what they are accused of–a fair trial. There is nothing to fear by providing justice. Its when we fail to do so, that we should be afraid.

This story is really interesting. I saw something similar on a previous episode of House in 2009. It's called 'Locked In'. The patient was awake but couldn't communicate. In that episode, they ended up using a computer interface to discover that he's awake. Pretty cool indeed.

Um. It's getting lonely out here~
So, GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE = simply translated is Good Night!

@Mike, formerly from Syracuse Now I don't argue that...I'm just saying nobody will need to be sent to GITMO

@Nancy in Denver

You are so right about auditing bills, testing, procedures, etc.
I worked for over 10 yrs. as a Nurse/Medical Consultant for Ins. Co.s and that was part of my job.

Very large sums of money were saved due to this auditing and teaching claims handlers and billing people how to audit too (or refer to the case to a consultant).
You are also right about the amt. of jobs this would create. I have written to the President and my Sen.s and Rep. about this.

I think that you should focus on the science and facts rather than try to stir emotional issues. The data reported in the study are what is relevant. If there is no difference in the death rate of women from breast cancer with or without mammograms, perhaps the real conclusion is that mammograms are not as good a diagnostic test as they are made out to be. This would suggest that it would be better to consider the facts and issues of breast cancer trreatment rather than flame emotional fires. I was very disappointed with Dr. Healy. She seems to have lost any scientific credibility and surrendered her judgement to political emotion

I loved the bit about the Veteran taking care of the homeless vets. There is so much going on in our country and around the world that we just don't know about. And this is a story of one of those happenings. Thanks for bringing it out...it was great !

sara palin is only getting more popular because of the MEDIA. IF the Media in America would NOT spot light her, so much, she would just fade away....

It does not matter when this started.... it needs to be stopped. Women, especially breast cancer surviors, need to let Washington know that this is WRONG for all American women. I am a breast cancer survivor. In my early 40's, I had a digital mammogram that detected DCIS (early/noninvasive breast cancer)... Had I not had a mammogram, my prognosis and treatment would have been much more costly in every way... emotionally, physically, financially, etc... Think about your wives, mothers, daughters.... I am already worried for my daughter and YOURS!

4 in 10, or fully a third a misdiagnosed? That is staggering. Do all of those people fully recover? to think of that someone hearing everything, understanding it, but hard to show comprehension, but it's there. And medical science is always advancing undestanding.

I almost can't believe veterans end up homeless, for that to happen to them after their service is heartrending. Roy Foster's program is truly a godsend.

Good evening,

"Who's more popular Sarah Palin or Barack Obama? Is this high school?
Yikes! What a question! Where is the substance or relevance to the days issues?

Thank you Erica, Randi-Kaye & entire Team 360, great program (as always).

Good night fellow bloggers too.

The shot: priceless....will they have enough evidence to convict?Thanks for the laugh.

Hope AC is on vacation?