Screening Pelvic Examination in Adult Women
Authors: Thomas D. Denberg, Russell Harris, Linda L. Humphrey, Amir Qaseem
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2014)

Letters16 December 2014Screening Pelvic Examination in Adult WomenThomas D. Denberg, MD, PhD, Russell Harris, MD, MPH, Linda L. Humphrey, MD, MPH, and Amir Qaseem, MD, PhDThomas D. Denberg, MD, PhDFrom Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia; University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon; and American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Search for more papers by this author, Russell Harris, MD, MPHFrom Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia; University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon; and American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Search for more papers by this author, Linda L. Humphrey, MD, MPHFrom Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia; University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon; and American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Search for more papers by this author, and Amir Qaseem, MD, PhDFrom Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia; University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon; and American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L14-5035-3 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:We agree strongly with Drs. Metz and Gussman that, regardless of limitations imposed by billing codes, physicians should do only those procedures that have shown benefit. Although we also agree that insurance and payment policies can sometimes contribute to unnecessary care, it is possible to bill Medicare and commercial payers for Papanicolaou smears and other preventive services in asymptomatic women without also doing a pelvic examination. For example, a 32-year-old woman who receives a physical examination, Papanicolaou smear, counseling on contraception and infections, and a prescription for a contraceptive pill but not a pelvic examination would be billed ... Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Thomas D. Denberg, MD, PhD; Russell Harris, MD, MPH; Linda L. Humphrey, MD, MPH; Amir Qaseem, MD, PhDAffiliations: From Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia; University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon; and American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M14-0701. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoScreening Pelvic Examination in Adult Women: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians Amir Qaseem , Linda L. Humphrey , Russell Harris , Melissa Starkey , and Thomas D. Denberg , for the Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians* Screening Pelvic Examination in Adult Women Carol Bates and Jennifer Potter Screening Pelvic Examination in Adult Women Samuel Metz and Debra Gussman Metrics 16 December 2014Volume 161, Issue 12Page: 926KeywordsAtrophyBreast cancer screeningContraceptivesDisclosureMedicareOsteoporosis ePublished: 16 December 2014 Issue Published: 16 December 2014 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2014 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...