The California Senate on Wednesday voted unanimously to pass legislation that would reverse a January decision by the state Department of Public Health that raised the age for public funding of mammography and cervical cancer tests to age 50 from age 40.
On January 1, the California Department of Public Health's Every Woman Counts program for low-income women raised the eligibility age for screening services from 40 to 50 years of age and older. It also suspended all new enrollments for breast cancer screening until July 2, 2010.
Bill AB 1640 restores mammogram access to low-income women ages 40-50 through the program. It was authored by Assembly members Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) and Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) and now awaits Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's signature or veto.
Related Reading
Calif. bill would restore low-income screening, January 6, 2010
CA law ups reporting rules for mammo centers, January 5, 2010
California to raise mammo screening age, December 15, 2009
ACR issues alert for mammo coverage changes, December 10, 2009
U.S. Senate boosts preventive care for women, December 3, 2009
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