State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > Connecticut > Title19a > Chap368g > Sec19a-266Sec. 19a-266. Breast and cervical cancer early detection and treatment referral program. (a) For purposes of this section:
(1) "Breast cancer screening and referral services" means necessary breast cancer screening services and referral services for a procedure intended to treat cancer of the human breast, including, but not limited to, surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and related medical follow-up services.
(2) "Cervical cancer screening and referral services" means necessary cervical cancer screening services and referral services for a procedure intended to treat cancer of the human cervix, including, but not limited to, surgery, radiation therapy, cryotherapy, electrocoagulation and related medical follow-up services.
(3) "Unserved or underserved populations" means women who are: (A) At or below two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level for individuals; (B) without health insurance that covers breast cancer screening mammography or cervical cancer screening services; and (C) nineteen to sixty-four years of age.
(b) There is established, within existing appropriations, a breast and cervical cancer early detection and treatment referral program, within the Department of Public Health, to (1) promote screening, detection and treatment of breast cancer and cervical cancer among unserved or underserved populations, (2) educate the public regarding breast cancer and cervical cancer and the benefits of early detection, and (3) provide counseling and referral services for treatment.
(c) The program shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) Establishment of a public education and outreach initiative to publicize breast cancer and cervical cancer early detection services and the extent of coverage for such services by health insurance; the benefits of early detection of breast cancer and the recommended frequency of screening services, including clinical breast examinations and mammography; and the medical assistance program and other public and private programs and the benefits of early detection of cervical cancer and the recommended frequency of pap tests;
(2) Development of professional education programs, including the benefits of early detection of breast cancer and the recommended frequency of mammography and the benefits of early detection of cervical cancer and the recommended frequency of pap tests;
(3) Establishment of a system to track and follow up on all women screened for breast cancer and cervical cancer in the program. The system shall include, but not be limited to, follow-up of abnormal screening tests and referral to treatment when needed and tracking women to be screened at recommended screening intervals;
(4) Assurance that all participating providers of breast cancer and cervical cancer screening are in compliance with national and state quality assurance legislative mandates.
(d) The Department of Public Health shall provide unserved or underserved populations, within existing appropriations and through contracts with health care providers: (1) Clinical breast examinations, screening mammograms and pap tests, as recommended in the most current breast and cervical cancer screening guidelines established by the United States Preventive Services Task Force, for the woman's age and medical history; (2) a sixty-day follow-up pap test for victims of sexual assault; and (3) a pap test every six months for women who have tested HIV positive.
(e) The Commissioner of Public Health shall report annually to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and appropriations. The report shall include, but not be limited to, a description of the rate of breast cancer and cervical cancer morbidity and mortality in this state and the extent of participation in breast cancer and cervical cancer screening.
(f) The organizations providing the testing and treatment services shall report to the Department of Public Health the names of the insurer of each underinsured woman being tested to facilitate recoupment.
(P.A. 96-238, S. 4-8, 25; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 54, 88; P.A. 98-36, S. 2; P.A. 00-216, S. 4, 28; P.A. 06-195, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 96-238 effective July 1, 1996; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8 changed 40 to 19 years of age in Subsec. (a)(3), changed 2 years to 1 year and changed under age 50 to age 45 to 64 in Subsec. (d)(1), changed over the age of 50 to age 35 to 40 with a first degree relative or other risk factor in Subsec. (d)(2), limited test to those age 19 to 64 who have had a positive finding, otherwise every 3 years or as directed by physician in Subsec. (d)(3) and added Subsecs. (d)(4) re follow up tests and (d)(5) re tests if HIV positive, in Subsec. (f) added appropriations committee and added new Subsec. (g) re names of insurers, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-36 made a technical correction in Subsec. (f), changing "committee" to "committees"; P.A. 00-216 amended Subsec. (e) by adding provisions re use of settlement payments for breast and cervical cancer treatment services, effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 06-195 amended Subsec. (a) by substituting "breast cancer screening and referral services" for "breast cancer treatment services" in Subdiv. (1) and redefining such services, and by substituting "cervical cancer screening and referral services" for "cervical cancer treatment services" in Subdiv. (2) and redefining such services, amended Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. designators (1) to (3), inclusive, and making technical changes, amended Subsec. (c) by adding provision in Subdiv. (1) expanding program content to include benefits of early detection and recommended frequency of screening services, including clinical breast exams and mammography, by making technical changes in Subdiv. (3), and by substituting "assurance" for "insurance" in Subdiv. (4), amended Subsec. (d) by deleting former Subdivs. (1) to (4), inclusive, adding new Subdiv. (1) re breast exams, screening mammograms and pap tests for unserved and underserved populations and renumbering existing Subdivs. (4) and (5) as Subdivs. (2) and (3), respectively, deleted former Subsec. (e) re application for and receipt of money from public and private sources for early detection and treatment referral, and redesignated existing Subsecs. (f) and (g) as Subsecs. (e) and (f), respectively, effective June 7, 2006.
See Sec. 17b-278b re authority of Commissioner of Social Services to seek federal waivers or amend Medicaid plan so as to secure federal reimbursement for costs of program.
See Sec. 19a-32b re breast cancer research and education account.
