§ 19a-266 — Breast and cervical cancer early detection and treatment referral program.

Connecticut § 19a-266

• Jurisdiction: Connecticut
• Title 19a: Public Health and Well-Being
• Ch. 368g: Lung Disease, Tuberculosis, Chronic Illness and Breast and Cervical Cancer

Text

(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) “Tomosynthesis” means a digital x-ray mammogram that creates two-dimensional and three-dimensional images of the breasts. (4) “Unserved or underserved populations” means women who are: (A) At or below two hundred fifty 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) twenty-one 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, while giving priority consideration to women in minority communities who exhibit higher rates of breast cancer and cervical cancer than the general population, (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, which shall include, where possible, tomosynthesis; 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 and tests for human papillomavirus; (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 and tests for human papillomavirus; (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, while giving priority consideration to women in minority communities who exhibit higher rates of breast cancer and cervical cancer than the general population, within existing appropriations and through contracts with health care providers: (1) (A) Clinical breast examinations, (B) screening mammograms, which shall include, where possible, tomosynthesis, (C) pap tests, and (D) tests for human papillomavirus, 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; and (2) a pap test every six months for women who have tested HIV positive. 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.

Legislative History

(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; P.A. 11-242, S. 29; P.A. 13-208, S. 2; P.A. 22-33, S. 4.) 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; P.A. 11-242 amended Subsec. (a)(3)(C) by increasing minimum age requirement from 19 to 21 years of age, amended Subsec. (d) by deleting former Subdiv. (2) re 60-day follow-up pap tests for victims of sexual assault and redesignating existing Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (2), deleted former Subsec. (e) re annual report to General Assembly and redesignated existing Subsec. (f) as Subsec. (e); P.A. 13-208 redefined “unserved or underserved populations” in Subsec. (a)(3) by changing 200 per cent to 250 per cent and deleted former Subsec. (e) re report to Department of Public Health, effective January 1, 2014; P.A. 22-33 amended Subsec. (a) by adding new Subdiv. (3) defining “tomosynthesis” and redesignating existing Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (4), amended Subsec. (b)(1) by requiring priority consideration to be given to women in certain minority communities, amended Subsec. (c) by adding references to tomosynthesis and tests for human papillomavirus in Subdiv. (1) and reference to “tomosynthesis” in Subdiv. (2), and amended Subsec. (d) by requiring priority consideration be given to women in certain minority communities, adding subparagraph designators in Subdiv. (1), adding reference to tomosynthesis in Subpara. (B) and adding Subpara. (D) re tests for human papillomavirus.