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HRD-93-5R 1 (1992-12-07)

handle is hein.gao/gaobackeo0001 and id is 1 raw text is: United States G}AO() General Aceounting Office Washugton, D.C. 20548 Human Resources Divsion B-2514691111111 148114 December 7, 1992 The Honorable Donald M. Payne Acting Chairman, Human Resources and Intergovernmental Relations Subcommittee Committee on Government Operations House of Representatives Dear Mr. Chairman: Over the past 18 months, concerns have been raised over the safety of silicone gel breast implants, which are usually inserted as part of reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy or for cosmetic purposes. Special advisory panels, convened by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), concluded that (1) no definitive safety data exist on these implants, (2) all women should be advised of the associated risks, and (3) ruptured implants should be removed. Earlier this year, FDA placed a moratorium on the use of silicone gel breast implants, limiting their use to women in carefully controlled studies. The Subcommittee expressed concerns that some women who are experiencing medical problems with silicone gel breast implants have been unable to have them removed due to the lack of financial resources. As agreed with the Subcommittee staff, we determined the payment practices of government and private insurers relating to the removal of breast implants. What we found out about the various insurers' payment practices is discussed in this letter. Also in this letter, we are providing information we obtained from Medicare and state Medicaid offices on (1) the number of surgical procedures that involved the removal of breast implants, breast implant material, and other GAO/HRD-93-5R, Removal of Breast Implants #0a

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