Download Dear

<INSERT DATE>
<LEGISLATOR ADDRESS BLOCK>
Dear <LEGISLATOR NAME>,
If breast cancer is detected in its earliest stages, before it spreads beyond the breast, the 5-year
relative survival rate is 98 percent. The survival rate plummets to just 23 percent once cancer
spreads to other parts of the body. Ohio currently finds itself ranked 32nd in the nation in breast
cancer incidence, yet our state is fourth in the nation in breast cancer mortality. This means while
fewer women get breast cancer in Ohio, too many of the ones who do die from the disease.
Therefore, access to cancer screenings is one of our most important tools in the fight against breast
cancer.
To improve access to life-saving cancer screenings, Congress passed the Breast and Cervical Cancer
Mortality Prevention Act in 1990, which established the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early
Detection Program (NBCCEDP). The NBCCEDP assists low-income, uninsured, and underinsured
women in accessing free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services. If a woman is
diagnosed with cancer through the NBCCEDP, she is automatically enrolled in BCCP Medicaid and
all of her treatment costs are covered. This helps ensure low-income women have timely access to
quality treatments necessary to save their lives.
While the NBCCEDP is a federal law, each state is responsible for administering the program; state
programs, however, vary in funding and infrastructure. States implement strategies and adopt
operational models tailored to their specific populations. Unfortunately, these strategies are often
influenced and limited by state funding and legislative constraints. While federal guidelines allow
the program to assist low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women, Ohio has limited program
eligibility to only uninsured women below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Some now question the necessity for state Breast and Cervical Cancer Programs (BCCP) after the
Affordable Care Act, but, the truth is, even after Medicaid expansion and subsidies in the insurance
marketplace, critical gaps remain. For example, if a woman finds a lump and urgently needs
diagnostic services, she may have to wait weeks to be enrolled in Medicaid – weeks that could cost
her life. If the same woman is successfully enrolled in expanded Medicaid, she may still be unable to
cover her out of pocket costs. Those costs should not keep her from accessing the care and
treatment she needs when BCCP funding is available to help.
Additionally, the BCCP fills another gap by expanding access to care in one’s own community. Some
marketplace plans are not accepted at providers in more rural counties, forcing many to travel long
distances to find a location where services are in-network. Currently, the Ohio BCCP is not open to
women whose insurance coverage is inadequate, but our hope is BCCP could function at a higher
and even more impactful level if funding was used for any underinsured women below the income
eligibility guidelines. The flexibility of BCCP to serve as a safety net for those still falling through the
gaps is critical.
Finally, the Governor’s proposed budget would cut support to cancer patients currently enrolled in
BCCP Medicaid, which could potentially cause thousands of Ohio women to stop cancer treatments.
This must be addressed as an urgent matter. Though progress has been made, much of the
insurance coverage in the marketplace remains unaffordable for the working poor. A recent Wall
Street Journal article calculated low-income individuals specifically, even with mid-range
deductibles, would not have enough liquid assets to pay their yearly deductible.
If the proposed budget passes, low-income women diagnosed with cancer will have to wait for
open-enrollment periods to try and obtain insurance. The will also take on unaffordable premiums,
co-pays, and out of pocket costs that accompany coverage. We must not leave our most vulnerable
women to fend for themselves when we have funding to help through BCCP. We must also consider
modernizing BCCP eligibility to cover an increasing underinsured population.
Maintain funding for Ohio’s BCCP now. Help provide resources that will support more prevention
and early detection services to more Ohioans – something that no doubt will help save more lives.
Sincerely,
<YOUR NAME>
<YOUR ORGANIZATION>