9 More States Approved for Medicaid for Breast Cancer Screening

Nine additional states are now approved to extend Medicaid benefits to uninsured women who are diagnosed with breast and cervical cancer under a federal screening program.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that approval has been given to Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington to extend Medicaid coverage to women diagnosed under the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.

States participating in the program receive a federal match of up to 85 percent of the costs of treating the women.

States already receiving the benefit, created under the national Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000 include Utah, Idaho, South Dakota, Illinois, Indiana and Montana, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, West Virginia and Maryland.

Patients must be under age 65, ineligible for Medicaid and without insurance to be eligible for the program. If they are diagnosed through the federal program, they may be eligible for Medicaid benefits throughout the course of their treatment.

Other Sources: DHHS