Pennsylvania Act 2005-74 — PENNSYLVANIA BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER EARLY SCREENING ACT

Act text

PENNSYLVANIA BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER EARLY SCREENING ACT
                  Act of Nov. 22, 2005, P.L. 407, No. 74              Cl. 35
                                  AN ACT

     Establishing a program for breast and cervical cancer screening
        services for certain eligible women; and providing for the
        powers and duties of the Department of Health.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

     Section 1.  Short title.
        This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania
     Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Screening Act.
     Section 2.  Definitions.
        The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
     have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
     context clearly indicates otherwise:
        "Clinical breast examination."  A breast examination
     performed by a health care professional for the purpose of
     detecting breast cancer.
        "Department."  The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
        "Papanicolaou test" or "Pap test."  A microscopic examination
     of cells scraped from the cervix.
        "Pelvic examination."  A physical examination of the uterus,
     vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder and rectum.
        "Program."  The Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Cancer Early
     Screening Program established in section 3.
        "Screening mammogram."  A radiologic procedure furnished to
     an asymptomatic woman for the purpose of early detection of
     breast cancer. The term includes a physician's interpretation of
     the results of such procedure.
     Section 3.  Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Cancer Early
                    Screening Program established.
        (a)  Program established.--There is hereby established within
     the Department of Health a program to be known as the
     Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Screening Program,
     which shall provide for the availability of annual breast cancer
     and cervical cancer screening services for low-income
     underinsured and uninsured women who are 40 to 49 years of age.
        (b)  Screening services.--The program shall be administered
     by the department for women who are eligible under subsection
     (c) and shall be targeted towards women who are at high risk for
     breast and cervical cancer.
        (c)  Eligibility.--To be eligible for the program, an
     individual must meet all of the following requirements:
            (1)  Be a woman who is 40 to 49 years of age.
            (2)  Have a family income that does not exceed 250% of
        the Federal poverty level.
            (3)  Have no health insurance coverage for screening
        mammograms, clinical breast examinations, Pap tests and
        pelvic examinations for women.
     Section 4.  Report to General Assembly.
        The department shall make an annual report to the General
     Assembly on the implementation of this act.
     Section 5.  Rules and regulations.
        The department may promulgate such regulations as may be
     necessary to implement this act.
     Section 6.  Funding.
        Services provided under the program shall not be considered
     an entitlement and shall be subject to available funds
     appropriated for this purpose.
     Section 7.  Effective date.
        This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.