Blagojevich administration launches Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program Tour

Officials will train healthcare providers to explain and sign women up for expanded Breast and Cervical Cancer Program

CHICAGO, Ill. – On behalf of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, administration officials today announced the start of a statewide tour to train local healthcare professionals to educate women about the expanded Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP) and show them how to sign up. The newly expanded IBCCP is the first of its kind in the country to make sure all uninsured women have access to breast and cervical cancer screenings that are key to early detection.

“In Illinois we are leading the nation in healthcare, first with our ‘All Kids’ program to provide health coverage to every child in Illinois and now with the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program,” said Gov. Blagojevich. “It is so important that women have access to the mammograms and Pap tests doctors recommend; they are the key to catching breast and cervical cancer at an early stage. All women should have access to the screenings that can save their lives. Now all uninsured women, regardless of income, can receive mammograms and Pap tests through the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program. This tour will provide healthcare professionals with more information about the program that they can pass along to patients.”

Officials from the Blagojevich administration will visit hospitals and health facilities throughout the state to train healthcare administrators to teach women about the new features of the IBCCP expansion and how they can qualify. With the new information, those administrators can help the women who might qualify sign up to receive free breast and cervical cancer screenings and treatments through the IBCCP.

"Illinois has established a reputation for being innovative in the healthcare field,” said Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Director Barry Maram. “We are fortunate in Illinois to have a governor who is not satisfied to sit and wait for the federal government to act on the current healthcare crisis. When Governor Blagojevich sees the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives, he acts, which is why Illinois is again in the forefront of the nation with the expanded Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program. For the next couple of weeks, officials from the administration will travel the state talking to healthcare providers about how the expansion helps the women in their communities.”

Under the Governor’s expansion, over 260,000 more women will be eligible for screening and treatment through the IBCCP. All uninsured women between the ages of 40 and 64 will qualify for mammograms and breast exams, and uninsured women between 35 and 64 will qualify for pelvic exams and Pap tests. Younger, symptomatic women who meet the guidelines are considered for the program on a case-by-case basis. The screening program is free.

Uninsured women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer will qualify for comprehensive healthcare coverage provided by Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) as long as they need treatment for breast or cervical cancer. Women diagnosed with a pre-cancerous cervical cancer condition who need follow-up diagnostic tests will also qualify for HFS coverage to determine whether they actually have breast or cervical cancer. Healthcare coverage will include doctor visits, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, emergency services, prescription drugs and more. Women who need treatment will pay modest co-payments for doctor visits, brand name prescription drugs and inpatient stays.

Attendees will also be able to learn about the State’s other healthcare programs, such as “All Kids,” the first program in the nation to provide coverage for all children, as well as “FamilyCare,” “Illinois Cares Rx” and “VeteransCare.”

More information for the trainings as well as information about how to get breast and cervical cancer screenings and treatment can be found by logging onto www.cancerscreening.illinois.gov.