ISSUE 4: NOVEMBER 2024 

Hello Everyone! Here's a recap of the news and stories I covered in October. 

I hope you learn something new and interesting, 

PS: Links are underlined, bold and highlighted in red. 

Prior Authorization Denials: Know Your RIghts

Health insurance companies are ramping up their prior authorization denials, and for Medicare alone, there were 3.4 million denials issued in 2022. Only 1 in 10 patients appeal, but when they do, over 80% of appeals are over-turned. If you have a medical service that is denied, the first step is getting a copy of the denial letter-which an insurer is obligated to issue so you understand (and document) who denied it and why. This issue hit close to home a few weeks ago when my husband, David, got a verbal denial for an osteoporosis medication and spent 6 hours on the phone searching for the denial letter. In the midst of his frustration, I interviewed him on the podcast. You can listen here. 

Colon Cancer Screening with a Blood Test? 

Nope. Not for me. And, I wasn't shy about coming out against using this blood test for colon cancer screening during my KSTP segment. Here's what you need to know. In July, the FDA approved a new screening test for colon cancer called “Shield”. It is being described as a simple alternative for people who want to avoid a colonoscopy or stool-based screening tests and "just requires a blood test." It's even covered by Medicare. But, take a look at Shield's sensitivity rate and compare it to colonoscopy. Shield finds 83% of colon cancers (which means it misses 17%!). Ok, not terrible. But, more importantly, look at the test's (in)ability to identify pre-cancerous polyps: 13%. Shield will miss 87 out of 100 pre-cancerous polyps that could be removed to prevent cancer all-together. 

IS YOUR Doctor CheckING Your 

Blood Pressure Correctly?

This is simple but important. Most healthcare visits include checking your blood pressure. But how often has your practitioner put the BP cuff on with your arm in your lap or while your arm was dangling by your side? A new study published by researchers at Johns Hopkins University showed that incorrect arm positioning can increase BP measurements by 4-6.7 points. For some, this might lead to a false diagnosis; for others, it could lead to additional medication. Speak up and make sure you are seated with your arm and elbow supported. Here's a link to the KSTP segment where I also explain why arm positioning matters. (Spoiler: physics.) Also, I used a free AI generator to create the graphic. Thoughts? I'm not crazy about it. 

IT's Time for Love…ANd A Visit To the Doctor

I absolutely LOVE watching the Golden Bachelorette since it shatters so many stereotypes about aging. But, when the guys talk (and laugh) about serious health symptoms, I worry that viewers will get the impression that these symptoms can be brushed off as part of “normal aging.” They're not. On this segment of Minnesota Live, I had the producers pull clips from the show and then talked to Chris Egert and Kelly Hanson about the difference between “just snoring” and sleep apnea; how many times a night it's normal to get up to urinate; and, whether a tremor like Dan's is an early sign of Parkinsons. Some of these symptoms sounded a little too familiar for Chris. Watch here. 

Marielle's 11 year Medical Mystery

According to the NIH, there are at least 25 million Americans suffering with an undiagnosed medical condition. Patients go from doctor to doctor, test to test, and ER to ER – worried about what could possibly be wrong and also worried that people think they're crazy. Marielle suffered with abdominal pain for 11 years. It was only when one great doctor listened to the whole story, put the puzzle pieces together and thought about medical conditions beyond his own specialty that Marielle was finally diagnosed. Listen here.

ELEVATED PSA TESTS: (NEW) NEXT STEPS

When should men start getting PSA tests? There's no firm recommendation. Instead, men are told PSA testing is a personal decision based on their individual risk factors. Here's why. When a man has a high PSA test result, the next step is a prostate biopsy. But only 1 in 4 men end up being diagnosed with cancer because PSAs can be elevated for a wide range of non-cancer reasons. (Take a look at the graphic). A new approach is emerging that will (hopefully) encourage more men to get PSA testing but result in fewer men getting unnecessary biopsies. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (translation: credible!) showed that men with a high PSA can start with an MRI; if the MRI is completely normal, then it is highly unlikely the abnormal test result is due to cancer. Biopsy avoided. 

According to the CDC, ready to eat, ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are part of our daily life and make up over 60% of the American diet. A new study – one of the largest ever done – confirms that people who eat the most UPFs have worse health outcomes: 22% higher risk of coronary artery disease and 9% higher risk of stroke. But, the study was large enough that it could tease out which ultra-processed foods are bad and which ones may be okay to eat in moderation. They even found that some UPFs can be good for you. No one can argue that a diet with whole, unprocessed foods is best, but we don't have demonize and completely avoid an entire category of prepared foods. You can watch the segment here.

Thanks for reading. You can find previous editions of ArcHealth on my website. 

This newsletter is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.