States Drop No-Cost Cancer Screenings Due To Budget Woes, Study Finds

Low-income women in at least 20 states no longer have adequate or convenient access to cancer screening services, including mammograms and Pap tests, as a result of the economic recession and diminished levels of health coverage, according to a recent study by the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network, the AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. For the study, ACSCAN conducted an unofficial survey of women's health screening programs nationwide from July 2008 to April 2009.

The study found that at least 14 states facing significant budget constraints were forced to turn away women who normally would qualify for no-cost mammograms and Pap tests. ACSCAN officials said that the number of women who are being rejected is not known and that some might receive screenings in other programs or through providers. Many providers also do not track the number of patients who have been rejected or obtained the screenings elsewhere.

According to the AP/Journal-Constitution, providers and health departments in each state have different methods for handling no-cost screenings. Some might supplement federal funding with money from the state or from private donors. The cost of the screenings also can vary from an average of about $100, while a Pap test can cost between $75 and $200, according to ACS (Bauman, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 12/12).


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