Illinois Gov. Blagojevich Announces Expansion Of Breast, Cervical Cancer Screening, Treatment Coverage For Uninsured Women

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance;  Breast Cancer;  Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 02 Oct 2007 - 6:00 PDT

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Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) on Thursday at Mercy Medical Center in Chicago announced a plan to expand the Illinois Department of Public Health's Breast and Cervical Cancer Program to cover breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment for up to 260,000 additional uninsured women in the state, the Chicago Tribune reports (Garcia et al., Chicago Tribune, 9/28). The program provides eligible women between ages 40 and 64 with mammograms and breast exams at no cost and it offers eligible women between ages 35 and 64 no-cost pelvic exams and Pap tests.

Blagojevich in May 2006 announced an increase of the income eligibility limit for the program from 200% to 250% of the federal poverty level (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 9/21/06). Blagojevich on Thursday said the expanded program will provide no-cost mammograms and breast cancer treatment to all uninsured women ages 40 and older, as well as no-cost pelvic exams, Pap tests and cervical cancer treatment to uninsured women ages 35 and older, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The program will include a public awareness campaign (Ritter, Chicago Sun-Times, 9/28). According to the Tribune, the expansion will take effect Oct. 1.

Funding
It was unclear Thursday how the program, which at full capacity will cost about $50 million annually, will be funded, the Tribune reports (Chicago Tribune, 9/28). Blagojevich said the expansion would be funded with savings from his recent vetoes of "pork barrel projects and other special interest spending." Blagojevich vetoed more than 1,500 projects and programs -- including health programs that aim to prevent autism, HIV, Alzheimer's disease and pandemic flu -- amounting to $463 million.

Steve Brown, a spokesperson for state House Speaker Michael Madigan (D), said the House likely will override the vetoes next week. Even if the vetoes are sustained in the House and Senate, Blagojevich could not use the savings to fund the program, Brown said, adding, that the Legislature must give the governor authority to spend the funds (Chicago Sun-Times, 9/28). Blagojevich spokesperson Abby Ottenhoff said the program primarily would be supported by an additional $1.75 million set aside in the budget for public health.

Some health care advocates lauded the expansion and said that it might increase the number of providers willing to screen uninsured women. "You're going to see more hospitals saying, 'Now that women are covered, they can come to my hospital because we know their diagnostic work-ups will be covered, and if they need treatment, that will be covered too," Donna Thompson -- CEO of Access Community Health Network, which operates 48 clinics and is one of the agencies for the program -- said (Chicago Tribune, 9/28).Illinois Gov. Blagojevich Announces Expansion of Breast, Cervical Cancer Screening, Treatment Coverage for Uninsured Women
[Oct 01, 2007]

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) on Thursday at Mercy Medical Center in Chicago announced a plan to expand the Illinois Department of Public Health's Breast and Cervical Cancer Program to cover breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment for up to 260,000 additional uninsured women in the state, the Chicago Tribune reports (Garcia et al., Chicago Tribune, 9/28). The program provides eligible women between ages 40 and 64 with mammograms and breast exams at no cost and it offers eligible women between ages 35 and 64 no-cost pelvic exams and Pap tests.

Blagojevich in May 2006 announced an increase of the income eligibility limit for the program from 200% to 250% of the federal poverty level (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 9/21/06). Blagojevich on Thursday said the expanded program will provide no-cost mammograms and breast cancer treatment to all uninsured women ages 40 and older, as well as no-cost pelvic exams, Pap tests and cervical cancer treatment to uninsured women ages 35 and older, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The program will include a public awareness campaign (Ritter, Chicago Sun-Times, 9/28). According to the Tribune, the expansion will take effect Oct. 1.

Funding
It was unclear Thursday how the program, which at full capacity will cost about $50 million annually, will be funded, the Tribune reports (Chicago Tribune, 9/28). Blagojevich said the expansion would be funded with savings from his recent vetoes of "pork barrel projects and other special interest spending." Blagojevich vetoed more than 1,500 projects and programs -- including health programs that aim to prevent autism, HIV, Alzheimer's disease and pandemic flu -- amounting to $463 million.

Steve Brown, a spokesperson for state House Speaker Michael Madigan (D), said the House likely will override the vetoes next week. Even if the vetoes are sustained in the House and Senate, Blagojevich could not use the savings to fund the program, Brown said, adding, that the Legislature must give the governor authority to spend the funds (Chicago Sun-Times, 9/28). Blagojevich spokesperson Abby Ottenhoff said the program primarily would be supported by an additional $1.75 million set aside in the budget for public health.

Some health care advocates lauded the expansion and said that it might increase the number of providers willing to screen uninsured women. "You're going to see more hospitals saying, 'Now that women are covered, they can come to my hospital because we know their diagnostic work-ups will be covered, and if they need treatment, that will be covered too," Donna Thompson -- CEO of Access Community Health Network, which operates 48 clinics and is one of the agencies for the program -- said (Chicago Tribune, 9/28).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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