01.15.02

Cantwell Praises Signing of the Native American Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Technical Amendment Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Bush signed legislation today that will provide life saving breast and cervical cancer treatment to an estimated 94 Native American women each year.

Senator Maria Cantwell, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and original co-sponsor of the Native American Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Technical Amendment Act of 2001, said the new law will make Native American women who use the Indian Health Service and have been diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer eligible for Medicaid.

"This legislation makes life-saving treatment available to Native American women," Cantwell said. "The bill is an important step in ensuring that Native American women have access to the comprehensive health care they deserve."

The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supports breast and cervical cancer screening activities in all 50 states and through 15 American Indian/Alaska Native organizations. However, the program provides funding only for screening services and not for treatment.

Last year, Congress passed legislation to allow States to expand their Medicaid programs to provide breast and cervical cancer treatment as an optional benefit for women who have been diagnosed as having breast or cervical cancer through the CDC program and are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid. Unfortunately, the legislation inadvertently excludes Native American women from receiving Medicaid breast and cervical cancer treatment.

The Native American Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Technical Amendment Act corrects this omission.