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Health: Removal of Breast Implants

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Report Type Reports and Testimonies
Report Date Dec. 7, 1992
Report No. HRD-93-5R
Subject
Summary:

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed government and private insurers' payment practices related to the removal of breast implants, focusing on: (1) the number of surgical procedures that involved the removal of breast implants and other complications of breast implants; and (2) physician charges and Medicaid and Medicare payments for such procedures. GAO noted that: (1) most government and private insurers pay for the removal of silicone gel breast implants; (2) all insurers require that the patient's physician determine that the procedure is medically necessary; (3) some government and private insurers deny coverage if implants are being removed solely because of emotional or psychological stress; (4) Medicare, Medicaid, the Department of Defense, and most private insurers pay for breast implant removal when the original implant was done for cosmetic reasons; and (5) government officials were not aware of any beneficiaries denied coverage for the removal of hazardous breast implants.

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