Media Release

Contact: Brenda DiPaolo, Program Director
RI Women’s Cancer Screening Program
(401) 222-3496
FOR: Immediate Release
date: October 16, 2000

Department of Health Expands Breast Cancer Screening

The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) Women’s Cancer Screening Program (WCSP) expanded breast cancer screening services offered to Rhode Island women as a result of the "Breast Cancer Act of 2000." WCSP services now include mammograms and diagnostic services to eligible women ages 40-49. The WCSP is primarily funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and focuses on women 50-64. In the Breast Cancer Act of 2000, the State of Rhode Island provided funding for the expanded services through the Rhode Island Cancer Council (RICC).The WCSP has provided breast and cervical cancer screening services to over 6,000 Rhode Island women since the fall of 1995. With the additional funding, the WCSP will expand mammogram and follow up services for Rhode Island women who are 40 and older, uninsured or underinsured, and with incomes at or less than 250% of the poverty level. CDC funds support cervical cancer screening and a Women’s Health exam including pelvic exam, a clinical breast exam, and a Pap smear for women age 40-64. Screening services are available statewide through participating doctors’ offices, community-based health centers, hospitals, consultants, radiology sites and labs."Our community partners identified mammograms for uninsured women age 40-49 as a gap in women’s cancer services," said Patricia A. Nolan, MD, MPH, Director of Health. "These funds now enable community-based agencies, Community Outreach Workers, and Community-Based Health Centers Inreach Workers to refer women age 40-49 for mammograms and follow-up services through the WCSP.""The Rhode Island Cancer Council has advocated the need for all women 40 years and older to have regular mammograms (even younger for women in high-risk families)," said Dr. Arvin Glicksman, RICC Executive Director. "Unfortunately, women without adequate insurance or no insurance, under the age of 50, could not get mammograms through the established health channels. This program fills an important gap in the safety net for early detection of breast cancer and improves the likelihood of cure for these young women."

The Breast Cancer Act of 2000 was introduced by Representative Abdullah-Odiase, and received strong support from Marlene McCarthy of the Rhode Island Breast Cancer Coalition and many other community agencies.