From duplicate blood tests to unnecessary knee replacements, millions of Americans - especially older adults - undergo screenings, scans and treatments that offer little or no benefit every year. Researchers have estimated that 21 percent of medical care is unnecessary – a problem that costs the health care system at least $210 billion a year. Such “overtreatment” isn’t just expensive. It often harms patients.

Join Kaiser Health News on Thursday, Sept. 27, from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. ET for an informative and important discussion about overtreatment. It’s an opportunity to learn from experts in the field about what leads to overtreatment – and how we can avoid it.

Please come, ask questions and share experiences.

Kaiser Health News senior correspondent Liz Szabo will moderate a discussion with you and a panel of experts as we explore this issue:

Dr. Louise Davies, MD, MS.
Senior faculty of and research fellowship director for the VA Outcomes Group, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in White River Junction, Vermont
Dr. Saurabh Jha, MBBS, MRCS, MS.
Radiologist and associate professor of radiology at the University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Barnett Kramer, MD, MPH.
Director of the division of cancer prevention at the National Cancer Institute
Dr. Jacqueline Kruser, MD, MS.
Pulmonologist and critical care physician at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Dr. Ranit Mishori, MD, MHS, FAAFP.
Associate professor of family medicine at the Georgetown University School of Medicine

Registration and lunch begin at 12:00 p.m.

The event, in the Foundation's Washington, D.C. office, is open to the public. Feel free to share this invitation with your contacts and colleagues.

This event is sponsored in part by The John A. Hartford Foundation which supports KHN’s coverage related to aging & improving care of older adults.

Read Kaiser Health News’ Treatment Overkill series.

Kaiser Health News Discussion on Medical Overtreatment