FINAL BILL REPORT
2ESB 5714



C 55 L 06
Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Establishing an early detection breast and cervical cancer screening program.

Sponsors: Senators Keiser, Deccio, Kastama, Parlette, Thibaudeau, McAuliffe, Brown, Rasmussen, Rockefeller and Kohl-Welles.

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care
House Committee on Health Care

Background: The Department of Health, through a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant, administers a breast and cervical cancer early detection program for low-income women. Federal funding from fiscal year 2000 to fiscal year 2004 was $15 million, and the state is required to contribute one dollar for every three dollars of federal funding. The Legislature has appropriated an annual $1 million for breast and cervical cancer screening, coordination, and outreach services.

Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. Washington State has the highest incidence of breast cancer in the nation. According to the Department of Health, early detection screening could prevent approximately 15 to 30 percent of breast cancer deaths among women over the age of 40.

Cervical cancer has a low incidence in the United States. Regular Pap tests can detect pre-cancers. The Department of Health believes that early detection screening can prevent the majority of cervical cancer deaths.

Summary: The Department of Health is authorized to administer a state-supported early detection breast and cervical cancer screening program to assist eligible women with preventative health services. Eligible women are defined as women aged 40-64, with income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level.

The Department of Health is authorized to administer the screening program to the extent funds are available. The Department is authorized to freeze enrollment in the screening program if expenditures exceed the appropriated funding unless there are adequate funds from alternative public or private sources.

The funding from the state must not be used to replace federally funded breast and cervical cancer early detection programs, but will be used to operate Department of Health approved programs or to increase access to existing state-approved programs.

A medical advisory committee is established to provide expert medical advice and guidance in the implementation of the program.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      47   0
House      97   0   (House amended)
Senate      45   0   (Senate concurred)

Effective: June 7, 2006