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The Central Michigan District Health Department offers a Women's Cancer Screening Program in Arenac,
Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Osceola, and Roscommon counties. This program is offered as a result
of funding made available from the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) that 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.
Eligibility 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, have been identified with a cervical abnormality through the Title X Program, and referred to the BCCCP for cervical cancer diagnostic follow-up.
Note: Women who are enrolled in a managed care program, a health maintenance organization, or Medicare Part B are not eligible for the BCCCP.
| Federal Poverty Level (2008)* |
| Size of Family Unit |
250% of Poverty Level |
| 1 |
$26,000 |
| 2 |
$35,000 |
| 3 |
$44,000 |
| 4 |
$53,000 |
| 5 |
$62,500 |
| 6 |
$71,000 |
| 7 |
$80,000 |
| 8 |
$89,000 |
| Each additional member beyond 8 |
add $9,000
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| * The federal poverty level figures are updated annually.
To obtain the most recent federal poverty level figures, call the Michigan BCCCP office at
(517) 335-9161.
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BCCCP services at these locations |
Arenac County
3727 Deep River Rd.
Standish, MI 48658
Phone: (989) 846-6541
Fax: (989) 846-0431
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Clare County
225 W. Main
P.O. Box 237
Harrison, MI 48625
Phone: (989) 539-6731
Fax: (989) 539-4449
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Gladwin County
555 W. Cedar Ave.
Gladwin, MI 48624
Phone: (989) 426-9431
Fax: (989) 426-6952
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Isabella County
2012 E. Preston
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
Phone: (989) 773-5921
Fax: (989) 773-4319
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Osceola County
4329 220th Avenue
Reed City, MI 49677
Phone: (231) 832-5532
Fax: (231) 832-1020
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Roscommon County
1015 Short Drive, M-18
Prudenville, MI 48651
Phone: (989) 366-9166
Fax: (989) 366-8921
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Uninsured women in the program
Yes, the BCCCP can also server low- and moderate-income women with some types of insurance,
but their insurer must be billed first for services provided. If their insurance does
not cover one or more of the services, they may be eligible for free services. (Note:
Women who are enrolled in a managed care program, a health maintenance organization, or Medicare
Part B are not eligible for the BCCCP.)
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
If a woman has some insurance coverage, the provider will bill that first, and the
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.
Breast or cervical abnormality 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. Some follow-up services are
covered through the BCCCP. Program participants are asked to discuss whether or not
a procedure is covered prior to having the procedure done. If the procedure is not
covered and no cancer is found, a payment plan can be worked out with the healthcare
provider. If a diagnosis of breast or cervical cancer is given, the participant
will be eligible for Medicaid coverage.
Coverage for cancer treatment if a breast or cervical cancer is diagnosed
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.)
Eligibility to receive Medicaid coverage for 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).
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