Free Mammograms Available For Eligible Women 40 To 49 under the Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Screening Act

Pennsylvania Budget Includes $1.7 Million to Fund the Act

EPHRATA, Pa. – Eligible Pennsylvania women over 40 will now have access to free mammograms, thanks to the $1.7 million written into the 2006-07 Pennsylvania Budget. Last fall, the Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Screening Act was unanimously passed by the PA legislature and signed by Governor Edward G. Rendell, making free mammograms available to eligible uninsured and underinsured women 40 to 49. This legislation coincides with the National Institutes of Health recommendations that annual mammograms begin at age 40.

The bill creates a program within the PA Department of Health to make annual breast and cervical cancer screenings available to eligible women 40 to 49, complementing the current program available for women 50 to 64. Women whose family income does not exceed 250% of the Federal poverty level with no other access to health insurance qualify for screenings under the legislation. With the passage of the budget, money has been set aside to fund this program for the 2006-07 fiscal year.

“Enormous progress has been made in diagnosing breast cancer,” said Governor Rendell, “but we still need to do more to fight this disease. It’s our hope, that with this legislation in place, we will diagnose more women early and save more lives.”

“The passage of this legislation marks an important victory in the battle against breast cancer,” said Pat Halpin-Murphy, PA Breast Cancer Coalition President and Founder. “It will equip women with the resources they need to take charge of their health.”

Governor Rendell was recognized in October by the PBCC as a Pink Ribbon Awardee at the Keystone Breast Cancer Conference for his commitment to women’s health issues.