Detailed Analysis Reveals Impact of COVID-19 on Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
Institute for Medicaid InnovationDetailed Analysis Reveals Impact of COVID-19 on Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
Washington, DC– The outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has created a health crisis with a deep impact on the way people access health services. The Institute for Medicaid Innovation (IMI), a non-profit, nonpartisan research and policy organization, completed an analysis to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 and 2020 has impacted eligibility for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). The analysis, conducted through the support of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), focused on both state and national level shifts in program eligibility for individuals by screening categories including race and ethnicity, Medicaid expansion status.
IMI found that more than half of states experienced an increase in eligibility for both breast cancer screening (32 states) and cervical cancer screening (31 states) through the NBCCEDP from 2019 to 2020. Areas where the greatest change occurred regionally include the western and southern census regions of the United States respectively for both breast and cervical cancer screening eligibility. The NBCCEDP supports efforts to increase access to breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnostic, and treatment services for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured individuals. From these findings, IMI has identified an increased need for funding for women’s* health programs as COVID-19 impacts both the income and coverage level, as well as states’ challenging requirement to address pandemic-related budget shortfalls.
“The ongoing need for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program is clear,” shares Lisa Lacasse, president of ACS CAN. “There remain far too many people who should be getting potentially lifesaving screenings through this program. The pandemic has only made the challenge greater as people’s employment and insurance coverage shifted. We need lawmakers at the state and federal level to do all they can to increase funding to this vital program so all who could benefit have access.”
The fact sheet “Impact of COVID-19 on Eligibility for the National Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program,” can be accessed on IMI’s website here.
*The Institute for Medicaid Innovation (IMI) uses gender inclusive and affirming language in all of its work. Gender specific language is used when specified in Medicaid requirements, statutes/policy language, data variables, and cited research.
About the Institute for Medicaid Innovation
The Institute for Medicaid Innovation (IMI) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan research and policy organization that provides independent, nonpartisan information and analysis to inform Medicaid policy and improve the health of the nation.
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