Women's Cancer Screening Program in Michigan 

Since 1991, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has implemented a comprehensive Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) through a multi-year grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With these funds, low-income women now have access to life-saving cancer screening services and follow-up care, including cancer treatment if that should be needed.

Through this program, women who have breast and cervical cancer will be identified at earlier stages of these diseases, when treatment is less expensive and the survival rate is more favorable.  Working together, participating medical providers and local health agencies can ensure that the highest quality breast and cervical cancer control services are available to all women in their communities.

Where Are These Services Available? 

Women throughout Michigan may seek these services from local health departments and over 700 contracted BCCCP providers across the state. Services are also available through tribal health clinics of federally recognized Indian tribes.

A woman's usual health care provider may encourage the woman to take advantage of this program. In addition, any Michigan woman ages 40 through 64 can call (toll-free) 800-922-MAMM to obtain a phone number for the BCCCP local coordinating agency closest to her home. The local agency will assess each woman for program eligibility, based upon age and income, and will provide an appointment to a health care provider or clinic near her home.

For the name and number of the local BCCCP agency nearest you, call (toll-free) 800-922-MAMM or click here to download a county-by-county list of local BCCCP coordinating agencies within Michigan.(available as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file)*

 

Provider Participation 

BCCCP services are coordinated through 20 local health departments across Michigan, as well as the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit. These agencies have enlisted the cooperation and participation of physicians, hospitals, and other health care organizations in their communities to assure that all necessary follow-up services are provided.

Local agencies are required to provide or arrange for basic screening services, i.e., clinical breast exams, screening mammograms, pelvic exams, Pap smears, and patient education.

Some local agencies are delivering these basic services through their existing or expanded department staff. Others are providing the basic services through subcontracts with community providers. Local agencies usually contract with radiology facilities to provide mammography services to enrolled women, as well as with clinical laboratories to analyze Pap tests.

For more information about how you can become a BCCCP provider, contact the Michigan BCCCP office at 517-335-9161 or click here for a list of local BCCCP coordinating agencies within Michigan. (available as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file)* 

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What are the recommended screening guidelines for breast cancer? 
2. What are the recommended screening guidelines for cervical cancer? 
3. What women are eligible for BCCCP services? 
4. Can uninsured women be seen by the program? 
5. What screening and diagnostic services are reimbursed by the BCCCP? 
6. What if a breast or cervical cancer abnormality is detected? 
7. What type of reimbursement is available to reimburse providers for their services? 
8. Does the BCCCP pay for cancer treatment if a breast or cervical cancer is diagnosed through the program? 
9. How long is a woman eligible to receive Medicaid coverage for her cancer treatment? 
10. Have there been any recent, major improvements in the Title XV Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program? 
11. Why should I choose to be a BCCCP provider? 
12. How can I get more details and become a BCCCP provider? 
13. Are any other services available to BCCCP clients? 

1. What are the recommended screening guidelines for breast cancer?

Click here to download the Michigan Cancer Consortium recommendations for early detection of breast cancer.(available as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file)*

2. What are the recommended screening guidelines for cervical cancer? 

Click here to download the Michigan Cancer Consortium recommendations for early detection of cervical cancer.(available as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file)* 

3. What women are eligible for BCCCP services? 

To be eligible for BCCCP services, women must meet the following criteria: 

• Have an income < 250% of federal poverty level (see chart below)
  
• Be uninsured or underinsured for these tests and 
  
• Be age 40 - 64 for breast/cervical cancer screening and for diagnostic follow-up of breast/cervical abnormalities or
  
• Be age 18 - 39 and have been identified with a cervical abnormality through the Family Planning program (Title X).
  
  Note:  Women who are enrolled in a managed care program, a health maintenance organization, or Medicare Part B are not eligible for the BCCCP. 

4. Can uninsured women be seen by the program? 

Yes, uninsured women are eligible for the program.  In addition, the BCCCP may also serve underinsured women. 

Note: Women who are enrolled in a managed care program, a health maintenance organization, or Medicare Part B are not eligible for the BCCCP. 

5. What screening and diagnostic services are reimbursed by the BCCCP? 

Through these local public health programs, an eligible women aged 40 - 64 can receive screening services free of charge, such as: 

• Clinical breast exam 
• Pap test 
• Pelvic exam 
• Screening mammogram 

Family Planning women enrolled in the BCCCP are eligible to receive cervical diagnostic services.

6. What if a breast or cervical abnormality is detected?

If a breast and/or cervical abnormality is detected from the screening test/exam, the woman will be referred to community providers for follow-up. Over 75 diagnostic services are covered through the BCCCP. Some of these include:

• Diagnostic mammograms
• Ultrasounds
• Breast biopsies
• Colposcopy services
• Colposcopy-directed biopsy services
• Medical consultations
• Selected anesthesia services

7. What type of reimbursement is available to reimburse providers for their services? 

The BCCCP reimburses providers at the Medicare rate for screening services for eligible women, including: 

• Clinical breast exam 
• Pap test 
• Pelvic exam 
• Screening mammogram 

If a woman has some insurance coverage, the provider will bill that first, and then submit the remainder of the bill to the BCCCP third party administrator for BCCCP payment. The total reimbursement cannot exceed the BCCCP rate. Women must never be billed for the services they receive through the BCCCP. 

8. Does the BCCCP pay for cancer treatment if a breast or cervical cancer is diagnosed through the program? 

In the event of a diagnosis of breast or cervical cancer through the BCCCP, a woman may be eligible for Medicaid coverage. If eligible, Medicaid will pay for all of her medical expenses for as long as she is being treated for the cancer. Once treatment is no longer needed, the woman is then potentially eligible (once again, based upon age and income) for continued annual screening services through the BCCCP. 

Note: Women who are illegal aliens, although eligible for BCCCP services, cannot receive Medicaid coverage. Federal law limits Medicaid coverage to citizens and legal aliens. 

9. How long is a woman eligible to receive Medicaid coverage for her cancer treatment? 

A woman remains eligible for Medicaid coverage until: 

• Her health professional deems the woman is free from cancer and will not require continued cancer therapy or 
• She no longer meets the eligibility criteria for this program (e.g., has obtained creditable insurance coverage, has reached the age of 65 and has Medicare Part B, or has an income that exceeds 250 percent of the federal poverty level).
  

10. Have there been any recent, major improvements in the Title XV Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program? 

Yes, effective July 1, 2001, cancer/pre-cancer treatment for eligible women diagnosed in the BCCCP can now be paid for by the Michigan Medicaid program. 

11. Why should I choose to be a BCCCP provider? 

There are several benefits to becoming a BCCCP enrolled provider. They include: 

• Patient satisfaction - You can provide breast and cervical screening services and many diagnostic services at no charge to your low- and moderate-income women. 
• Case management - Working with the BCCCP agency, case management services can be provided to assist you in following women who have breast or cervical screening abnormalities. 
• Access to Medicaid - Women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer through the BCCCP are eligible to apply for Medicaid coverage that provides all medical care for them through the entire course of their treatment. 
• Quality of care - Working closely with the BCCCP, you can receive reports on the care delivered to women in the program. Michigan's BCCCP currently meets/exceeds the quality of care performance standards established by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  

12. How can I get more details and become a BCCCP provider? 

To find out more about how you can become a provider for the Michigan BCCCP, call the Michigan BCCCP office at 866-930-6324 or contact your local coordinating agency. 

Listing, By County, of Michigan BCCCP Referral Agencies (available as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file)*

Michigan BCCCP Local Coordinating Agencies-Provider Contacts (available as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file)* 

13. Are any other services available to BCCCP clients? 

Yes, some BCCCP clients are eligible to receive cardiovascular screening as well as lifestyle counseling services.  These services are only available to BCCCP clients who are also enrolled in the Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) Program.

The WISEWOMAN Program is an extension of the BCCCP and focuses on Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk factor reduction.  CVD risk factors are assessed via blood pressure and cholesterol screening and evaluation of health history and current behaviors related to nutrition, physical activity, and smoking.  Based on their CVD risk factors, clients work with lifestyle counselors to determine their lifestyle behavior change goals.  These goals focus on changes to nutrition, physical activity, and smoking behaviors.

To help clients achieve their lifestyle behavior change goals, lifestyle counselors provide follow-up contacts with the clients.  Support, encouragement, reinforcement, and education are offered during these lifestyle counseling sessions.

The WISEWOMAN Program is currently offered by the following agencies: 

• Catherine's Care Center - Kent County 
• Detroit Department of Health and Wellness - Wayne County 
• District Health Department #2 - Alcona, Iosco, Ogemaw, and Oscoda Counties 
• District Health Department #10 - Crawford, Kalkaska, Lake, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Newaygo, Oceana, and Wexford Counties 
• Genesee County Health Department 
• Hackley Community Care Center - Muskegon County 
• Health Department of Northwest Michigan - Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego Counties 
• Huron County Health Department - Huron, Sanilac, and Tuscola Counties 
• Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department - Berrien County 
• Lenawee County Health Department 
• Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties 

For more information about the WISEWOMAN Program, please visit  http://www.cdc.gov/wisewoman/index.htm 

  
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