Strategies for providing follow-up and treatment services in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program--United States, 1997.

The Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act of 1990 authorized CDC to establish the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) to increase screening services for women at low income levels who are uninsured or underinsured. Although the NBCCEDP covers most diagnostic services that women need after receiving an abnormal mammography or Papanicolaou (Pap) test result, the program does not reimburse for breast biopsies. In addition, the Act prohibits the use of NBCCEDP funds for cancer treatment. Participating health agencies must ensure that NBCCEDP clients receive timely, appropriate diagnostic and treatment services. In 1996, CDC began a case study to determine how early detection programs in seven participating states (California, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, and Texas) identified resources and obtained diagnostic and treatment services. This report summarizes the results of the study, which indicate that respondents in these states reported that treatment had been initiated for almost all NBCCEDP clients in whom cancer was diagnosed. However, respondents also considered the strategies used to obtain these services as short-term solutions that were labor-intensive and diverted resources away from screening activities.