VA Primary Care Shows Lower Low-Value PSA Testing Than Medicare

This retrospective cohort study used linked VA-Medicare data on 1.41 million dually enrolled male veterans 65 and older to compare PSA testing and prostate biopsy rates between VA and fee-for-service Medicare primary care settings. The study reported that among men 80 years or older, PSA testing and biopsy rates were lower in VA primary care than in FFS Medicare, and testing was also lower among men with fewer than 5 years predicted life expectancy, while PSA testing was higher in VA care among men aged 65 to 69. The authors state this suggests VA primary care more closely aligns PSA testing intensity with likelihood of benefit compared with FFS Medicare.

Most relevant for: Older male veterans with limited life expectancy who are dually enrolled in VA and Medicare primary care.

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