Arch Intern Med
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All relevant authorities recommend an interval of 10 years between normal screening colonoscopies. We assessed the timing of repeated colonoscopies after a negative screening colonoscopy finding in a population-based sample of Medicare patients. ⋯ A large proportion of Medicare patients who undergo screening colonoscopy do so more frequently than recommended. Current Medicare regulations intending to limit reimbursement for screening colonoscopy to every 10 years would not appear to be effective.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Soy isoflavones in the prevention of menopausal bone loss and menopausal symptoms: a randomized, double-blind trial.
Concerns regarding the risk of estrogen replacement have resulted in a significant increase in the use of soy products by menopausal women who, despite the lack of evidence of the efficacy of such products, seek alternatives to menopausal hormone therapy. Our goal was to determine the efficacy of soy isoflavone tablets in preventing bone loss and menopausal symptoms. ⋯ In this population, the daily administration of tablets containing 200 mg of soy isoflavones for 2 years did not prevent bone loss or menopausal symptoms.
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National health reform is designed to reduce the number of uninsured adults. Currently, many uninsured individuals receive care at safety-net health care providers such as community health centers (CHCs) or safety-net hospitals. This project examined data from Massachusetts to assess how the demand for ambulatory and inpatient care and use changed for safety-net providers after the state's health care reform law was enacted in 2006, which dramatically reduced the number of individuals without health insurance coverage. ⋯ Despite the significant reduction in uninsurance levels in Massachusetts that occurred with health care reform, the demand for care at safety-net facilities continues to rise. Most safety-net patients do not view these facilities as providers of last resort; rather, they prefer the types of care that are offered there. It will continue to be important to support safety-net providers, even after health care reform programs are established.