California changes its free breast cancer screening policy

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By Jimmy Downs

Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health announced on Dec 2, 2009 that the State will suspend all new enrollments for breast cancer screening services until July 2, 2010.

Dr.  Horton also said in a statement posed on the agency's website that the eligibility age for breast cancer screening services will increase from currently 40 to 50 years of age or over.

Last month, the U.S. Preventive Service Task Force updated its breast cancer screening guidelines and recommended that women should begin biennial mammogram screening for breast cancer at age 50 instead of 40.

California currently provides low income women with free mammogram screening under the Cancer Detection programs: Every Women Counts.

To be eligible for the service, a woman should be a resident aged 40 or older, has an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty, has medical insurance that does not cover these services, has a high insurance deductible or co-payment, and is not getting the mammogram screenings through Medi-Cal or another government-sponsored program.

The changes are said to be due to the unprecedented fiscal challenges resulting from increasing demand for breast cancer screening services and declining state tobacco tax revenues, the primary funding source for the program.

Dr. Horton said the new changes are necessary to "ensure this program continues to be available to as many low-income women in California as possible."

Interested women in California may call 1-800-511-2300 Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM to 5 PM.