Texas Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program Put on Hold Due to Lack of Funds

Although Texas lawmakers last year approved the state's participation in a federal program that would allow Texas to provide Medicaid benefits to uninsured women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer, they have yet to provide state funding necessary to launch the program, the AP/Dallas Morning News reports. In the last legislative session, lawmakers placed the $1.2 million program on a list of projects that would receive funding only if "extra money" could be found in the state budget during the 2002-2003 cycle. Six months into the cycle, lawmakers have not been able to come up with the funds (Mabin, AP/Dallas Morning News, 3/26). Under the federal Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act, signed into law in October 2000, states can expand their Medicaid programs to provide treatment for uninsured women under age 65 who have breast or cervical cancer. To qualify for treatment, women must be diagnosed through the CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Patients receive Medicaid benefits for the duration of their treatment (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 12/7/01). About 200 Texas women would be eligible for such benefits but have not yet received them due to the lack of funds. Texas is one of 14 states that has not implemented the program, a standing that has "disappointed" some lawmakers. "I am devastated that women who were hoping to receive these services might not," state Rep. Glen Maxey (D) said (AP/Dallas Morning News, 3/26).