2005 Connecticut Code - Sec. 19a-266. Breast and cervical cancer early detection and treatment referral program.

      Sec. 19a-266. Breast and cervical cancer early detection and treatment referral program. (a) For purposes of this section:

      (1) "Breast cancer treatment services" means a procedure intended to treat cancer of the human breast, including, but not limited to, surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and related medical follow-up services.

      (2) "Cervical cancer treatment services" means a procedure intended to treat cancer of the human cervix, including, but not limited to, surgery, radiation therapy, cryotherapy, electrocoagulation and related medical follow-up services.

      (3) "Unserved or underserved populations" means women who are: (A) At or below two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level for individuals; (B) without health insurance that covers breast cancer screening mammography or cervical cancer screening services; and (C) nineteen to sixty-four years of age.

      (b) There is established, within existing appropriations, a breast and cervical cancer early detection and treatment referral program, within the Department of Public Health, to promote screening detection and treatment of breast cancer and cervical cancer among unserved or underserved populations, to educate the public regarding breast cancer and cervical cancer and the benefits of early detection and to provide counseling and referral services for treatment.

      (c) The program shall include, but not be limited to:

      (1) Establishment of a public education and outreach initiative to publicize breast cancer and cervical cancer early detection services and the extent of coverage for such services by health insurance, the medical assistance program and other public and private programs and the benefits of early detection of cervical cancer and the recommended frequency of pap tests;

      (2) Development of professional education programs, including the benefits of early detection of breast cancer and the recommended frequency of mammography and the benefits of early detection of cervical cancer and the recommended frequency of pap tests;

      (3) Establishment of a system for the purpose of tracking and follow-up of all women screened for breast cancer and cervical cancer in the program. The system shall include, but not be limited to, follow-up of abnormal screening tests and referral to treatment when needed and tracking women to be screened at recommended screening intervals;

      (4) Insurance that all participating providers of breast cancer and cervical cancer screening are in compliance with national and state quality assurance legislative mandates.

      (d) The Department of Public Health shall provide unserved or underserved populations, within existing appropriations and through contracts with health care providers: (1) One mammogram every year for populations age forty-five to sixty-four; (2) one mammogram every year for populations age thirty-five to forty-four with a first degree female relative who has had breast cancer or with other risk factors of equal weight; (3) one pap test for cervical cancer per year for populations age nineteen to sixty-four who have had a positive finding, otherwise one every three years or more frequently as directed by a physician; (4) a sixty-day follow-up pap test for victims of sexual assault; and (5) a pap test every six months for women who have tested HIV positive.

      (e) The Department of Public Health may apply for and receive money from public and private sources and from the federal government for the purposes of a program for breast cancer and cervical cancer early detection and treatment referral. Any payment to the state as a settlement of a court action of which the proceeds may be used for women's health shall be deposited in an account designated for use by the Department of Public Health for breast and cervical cancer treatment services.

      (f) The Commissioner of Public Health shall report annually to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and appropriations. The report shall include, but not be limited to, a description of the rate of breast cancer and cervical cancer morbidity and mortality in this state and the extent of participation in breast cancer and cervical cancer screening.

      (g) The organizations providing the testing and treatment services shall report to the Department of Public Health the names of the insurer of each underinsured woman being tested to facilitate recoupment.

      (P.A. 96-238, S. 4-8, 25; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 54, 88; P.A. 98-36, S. 2; P.A. 00-216, S. 4, 28.)

      History: P.A. 96-238 effective July 1, 1996; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8 changed forty to nineteen years of age in Subdiv. (3) of Subsec. (a), in Subsec. (d) changed two years to one year and changed under age fifty to age forty-five to sixty-four in Subdiv. (1), in Subdiv. (2) changed over the age of fifty to age thirty-five to forty with a first degree relative or other risk factor, in Subdiv. (3) limited test to those age nineteen to sixty-four who have had a positive finding, otherwise every three years or as directed by physician and added Subdiv. (4) re follow up tests and Subdiv. (5) re tests if HIV positive, in Subsec. (f) added appropriations committee and added new Subsec. (g) re names of insurers, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-36 made a technical correction in Subsec. (f), changing "committee" to "committees"; P.A. 00-216 amended Subsec. (e) by adding provisions re use of settlement payments for breast and cervical cancer treatment services, effective July 1, 2000.

      See Sec. 17b-278b re authority of Commissioner of Social Services to seek federal waivers or amend Medicaid plan so as to secure federal reimbursement for costs of program.

      See Sec. 19a-32b re breast cancer research and education account.