For Immediate Release:
October 17, 2005
Sen. Leftwich says Breast/Cervical Cancer Legislation is Saving Lives
As events are held across the nation to mark Breast Cancer
Awareness Month, thousands of Oklahoma women are taking advantage of
legislation giving them access to life-saving breast and cervical cancer
treatment. That’s according to State Sen. Debbe
Leftwich, author of a 2004 measure to provide funding for uninsured
and underinsured women in need of treatment. As a result, the Breast
and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program went into effect on January 1,
2005.
“As of the end of September, 2,653 Oklahoma women have had breast
and cervical cancer treatment because of this program. There’s
no doubt in my mind that we’ve saved lives,” Leftwich said.
Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, and former Rep. Danny Hilliard, D-Sulphur,
were co-authors of HB 2552. The measure, named for Rep. Hilliard’s
mother, Belle Maxine Hilliard, who died from breast cancer, appropriated
$2.5 million to a revolving fund enabling the state to capture nearly
$10 million in federal matching funds. Leftwich is chair of the Breast
and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Advisory Committee, which
oversees the use of those funds.
“Oklahoma ranks fourteenth in the nation in the number of annual
cancer related deaths, yet until the passage of HB 2552, we were the
only state not taking advantage of the federal matching fund program
for breast and cervical cancer treatment. Clearly, it was something
we needed to do.”
Leftwich said she will continue to pursue legislation to improve the
health of Oklahomans through better awareness and access to cancer treatment.
This past year she became the co-chair of both the Women’s Legislative
Caucus and the state’s first Cancer Caucus. Leftwich said she
looked forward to utilizing those organizations to help bring the issue
of cancer to the forefront.
“Early detection is still our best weapon. I’ve worked to
get additional funding for breast and cervical cancer screening, but
there’s more to be done,” Leftwich said. “Cancer has
impacted nearly every family in this state, including my own. The good
news is we have an opportunity to enact public policy that will save
even more lives.”
In order to be eligible for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment
Program, women must be screened for breast or cervical cancer under
the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and found to
be in need of treatment. The program is available to women between the
ages of 19 and 65 who have no creditable health insurance coverage,
or other available insurance providing breast or cervical cancer services,
including Medicaid. There also income limits for the screening program.
For more information, contact the “Oklahoma Cares” hotline
at 1-866-550-5585 or email OKCares@health.ok.gov.