Missouri Expands Health Services For Low-Income Women

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance;  Cancer / Oncology;  Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 09 Jan 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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Missouri has expanded a program to provide state-funded women's health services -- including pelvic exams, cancer screenings and family planning services -- to low-income women without private health insurance, the AP/Washington Examiner reports. The program is available to women ages 18 to 55 with incomes up to 185% of the federal poverty level. As many as 83,000 additional women could be eligible for the health services under the expanded program.

The initiative was created under a 2007 state law that restructured Missouri's Medicaid program as MO HealthNet and placed greater emphasis on preventive health care, but the state required approval from CMS before it could offer the new services. Missouri's Medicaid program already covered pregnant women with incomes up to 185% of the federal poverty level and provided additional family planning and women's health services for one year following birth or miscarriage. Under the expanded program, all women who meet the income requirements will be eligible for these services, regardless of whether they are pregnant. Deborah Scott, director of Missouri's Department of Social Services, said, "Our intent is to increase the opportunity for low-income women to get annual health screenings to promote early detection of life-threatening disease such as breast or cervical cancer" (AP/Washington Examiner, 1/7).

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