When Congress approved MQSA in 1994, the healthcare community hailed it as a means of ensuring the quality of mammography nationwide. But major variations in quality still exist despite the law, says David Ansell, MD, chief medical officer at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. The experiences of black women in Chicago clearly illustrate why facilities should view MQSA as a starting point when it comes to raising the bar on quality, Ansell says.

Patients are increasingly holding off on seeking health services with copayments and deductibles because they can’t afford them, says Theresa Wade, MPHA, ACMPE, business manager at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care, LLC, in Rochester, NY. Although Elizabeth Wende hasn’t seen a drop in patient volume, managers at other facilities have, Wade says.