Nine States Approved for Medicaid Coverage Extension to Women with Breast, Cervical Cancers
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson yesterday approved nine states' requests to extend Medicaid coverage to uninsured women who are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer through the CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, according to an HHS release. Uninsured women in Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington may now take advantage of the federal Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000, joining those in 10 other states already approved for the Medicaid extension. Thompson said, "These expansions offer help, hope and health care to women who otherwise would receive only a diagnosis that may sound like a death sentence. With these approvals, women who had no health coverage can now get immediate access to life-saving treatment through Medicaid." Under the law, women may be eligible for traditional Medicaid benefits for the duration of their cancer treatment. To qualify for program coverage, women must be under 65, ineligible for traditional Medicaid and without creditable health care coverage. States that have obtained approval will receive a federal match of up to 85% of the treatment costs. More information on the Medicaid option is available online (HHS release, 8/27).
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