Colorado Senate Passes Bill Outlining Funding for Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program

The Colorado Senate on Tuesday passed a bill ( 01S2-12) that would use money from the state's share of the national tobacco settlement to cover breast and cervical cancer treatment for low-income women, the Colorado Springs Gazette reports (Henley, Colorado Springs Gazette, 10/3). The federal Breast and Cervical Cancer Act of 2000 allows states to create the program using a combination of federal and state money. Under the act, the government covers the costs of any surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, follow-up care and medication for patients who use a free screening program operated by the CDC. Uninsured patients with incomes up to 250% of the federal poverty level are eligible for treatment through Medicaid (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 9/18). Under the bill passed by the Colorado Senate, the federal government would fund 65% of the program and the state would cover 35%. Until 2003, the state funds would come from the interest accumulated on Colorado's $2.9 billion share of the national tobacco settlement. After 2003, funding would shift from the tobacco funds to taxpayer revenue.

Debate in the House
After passage in the Senate, the bill moved on Oct. 3 to a state House committee in which Republicans tried to add an amendment to the bill "to require any woman getting an abortion to be told that there is a greater risk for cancer after abortion." House Majority Leader Lola Spradley (R), who is also the sponsor of the bill in the House, "made a personal appeal" not to bring in the abortion issue because it essentially amounted to "killing the bill" (Seibert, Denver Post, 10/4). Gov. Bill Owens (R) is "happy" with the bill and will likely sign it, the Denver Post reports (Martinez, Denver Post, 10/3). State officials anticipate that the program will enroll 170 women within three years (Colorado Springs Gazette, 10/3).