White Plains CitizeNetReporter - MORE MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR NY WOMEN CANCER PREVENTION TAKES EFFECT TODAY

Anonymous writes "WPCNR NEWS JOURNAL. From American Cancer Society. October 2, 2002:More Westchester women will be eligible for life-saving cancer treatments under a new state law that went into effect today. Under the “Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act,” women who are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer through a New York State Healthy Women’s Partnership are now eligible for Medicaid coverage for their treatments.

Prior to the state opting into this program, women diagnosed through a Partnership had no means of getting necessary treatments. They would rely on charity, special hospital funds, or leave their cancer untreated.

Mammogram Coverage Mandated Annually

This year, approximately 14,700 New York women will hear the words, “you have breast cancer.” A mammogram is a vital tool in the fight against breast cancer. While not perfect, mammograms can detect breast cancers much earlier than touch alone. Women who detect their cancer early may have the option of treatments that preserve their breast tissue. In addition to saving lives, mammograms are cost effective because they find cancers at the earliest stages allowing for less aggressive and costly therapies.

However, a loophole in existing law put thousands of New York’s women at risk. The law required insurers to cover mammograms only every other year between the ages of 40 and 49, leaving those in-between years uncovered, thus mammograms unattainable (too costly) for most women. The American Cancer Society suggests that women get a mammogram every year beginning at age 40*.

Act Guarantees Insurance Coverage for Annual Mammograms

The Women’s Health and Wellness Act, enacted this year, guarantees insurance coverage for annual mammograms for all women beginning at age 40, and provides $500,000 in funding to New York State Healthy Women Partnerships to enhance the Partnerships’ outreach efforts.

The Healthy Women Partnerships, active in every county in the state, provide breast and cervical cancer screening to low income, uninsured or underinsured women. As a result of this new law, even women who have insurance but find the deductible or co-insurance fee burdensome, may be able to get their mammogram through the Partnership. This law becomes effective January 1, 2003.

These victories were achieved in part due to the efforts of American Cancer Society volunteers, and because of awareness and money raised at the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, held on October 20, 2002 at Manhattanville College. If you are interested in participating in the American Cancer Society’s advocacy efforts, or in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, please contact us at 1-800-ACS-2345 or www.cancer.org/makingstrides.

*American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines:
· Women over 40 have annual mammograms and annual clinical breast exams;
· Women between the ages of 20 and 39 have clinical breast exams every three years; and
· Women over 20 should conduct monthly self-breast exams.
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