what's the scuttlebutt in the medical community?  I'm hearing some disbelief and disagreement.

The recommended changes to the breast imaging guidelines were put forth by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a panel sponsored by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Quality. It is essentially a government agency that, historically, has been just another opinion among many trying to influence health care practice guidelines. A recommendation from such a bureaucracy is exactly that, a recommendation from a government bureaucracy. But it is interesting that this agency has stepped into this controversy right now, as the Health Care "reform" bill is being debated in the Senate. I understand that this same organization is specifically singled out by that bill to be the agency that will determine the guidelines for payment. So your doctor can certainly order a mammogram for you at age 40-50, but if you find yourself with "public option" health insurance, don't expect to get that service paid for.

This is why Sarah Palin got so much criticism when she talked about a "Death Panel" in the proposed legislation. She got the name wrong. It is the "U.S. Preventive Services Task Force". It performs the same function, but has a different name. Silly Sarah.

I am confused to how the recommendation is what it is.  It seems to me this is only a way to save costs and not really a way to save lives  Does another study support this same idea?