HHS Approves Medi-Cal Breast and Cervical Cancer Coverage for Uninsured Women
HHS yesterday approved California's request to expand Medi-Cal coverage to low-income uninsured women diagnosed with breast and cervical cancer, the AP/Fresno Bee reports (AP/Fresno Bee, 10/25). Under the federal Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000, Medi-Cal will cover the treatment of breast and cervical cancer for women who undergo screening through either the Breast Care and Cervical Cancer Detection Program or the Breast Cancer Early Detection Program or at a Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment site. Uninsured women under 65 with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level are eligible. California joins 31 other states offering the program (Office of the Governor release, 10/24). According to Dr. Georjean Stoodt, chief of the Department of Health Services cancer detection section, an estimated 4,400 women will receive coverage in the program's first fiscal year (Rojas, Sacramento Bee, 10/25).
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