Dear Colleagues,
I want to share a message from Dr. Gina Villani, CEO of The Ralph Lauren Center of Cancer Care and Prevention. It is a response to a recent article in the New York Times which neglects the challenges faced by medical facilities which not only treat commercially insured individuals, but the underinsured and uninsured as well. The Ralph Lauren Center provides excellent cancer screening, diagnostic, and treatment services for all individuals. By receiving care at facilities such as The Ralph Lauren Center, you are supporting the care of less fortunate individuals too. If you or someone you know is in need of a colonoscopy or other cancer-related care, please contact us at 212-987-1777.
In the NY Times Article “Colonoscopies Explain Why US Leads The World in Health Expenditure,” (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/02/health/colonoscopies-explain-why-us-leads-the-world-in-health-expenditures.html?_r=0) the author failed to mention that there are many Centers and doctors who perform potentially lifesaving cancer screenings every day and are not reimbursed a “King’s ransom”. Many of these centers serve the most vulnerable and are constantly struggling to make ends meet. As I am sure you are aware, we have two health care systems in this country, one that pays an average of $5,000 for a colonoscopy and the other that reimburses $300. As you also know, a diverse payer mix is essential to the financial health of any medical facility and yet there seems to be a great divide in where the well insured and the under insured receive their care.
The Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care is a state of the art facility that provides colonoscopies, cancer screening and cancer treatment to any one in need. We do not turn away the uninsured or underinsured and accept full payment from insurance. We are staffed by Memorial Sloan Kettering credentialed physicians and deliver the highest quality services.
If you or someone you know is in need of cancer screening or our other services, I hope you will think of the Ralph Lauren Center. Not only will you be investing in your own health but you will help us in providing care for those less fortunate. Furthermore, because our costs are substantially lower than most private practices, performing your colonoscopy at the Ralph Lauren Center helps the entire health care system. We can be reached at 212-987-1777.
Colorectal screening guidelines have been outlined by our partner, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and can be found at the following link: http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/screening-guidelines/screening-guidelines-colorectal.
Thank you,
Gina Villani
CEO/Medical Director
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