Title: An act relating to an early detection breast and cervical cancer screening program.

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.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 3/2/05 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/16/05, 48-0; 1/18/06, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Thibaudeau, Vice Chair; Benson, Franklin, Kline and Poulsen.

Staff: Sharon Swanson (786-7447)

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 of Bill: The Department of Health must 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 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.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Good bill. The services covered under this legislation are already provided to uninsured and under insured women. This bill seeks to put into statute what is already being accomplished through federal grants. Putting this program into statute will allow for direction and policy input that is not available through the budget process.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Susie Tracy, Susan G. Komen, Breast Cancer Foundation; Patty Hayes, Department of Health.

House Amendment(s): The House amendments specify that the Department of Health is not required to administer the screening program. The Department of Health is authorized to administer the screening program to the extent funds are available. Expenditures for the screening program may not exceed the appropriated amount. The Department of Health 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. A medical advisory committee is established to provide expert medical advice and guidance in the implementation of the program.