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First Congressional District of New Mexico
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ask.heather@mail.house.gov

In Washington DC
442 Cannon House
Office Building
Washington, DC
20515
202-225-6316 Phone
202-225-4975 Fax
In Albuquerque
20 First Plaza NW
Suite 603
Albuquerque, NM
87102
505-346-6781 Phone
505-346-6723 Fax

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Congresswoman Heather Wilson, First Congressional District of New Mexico


Statements
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Wilson Urges Governor to Add Breast & Cervical Cancer Treatment to Medicaid February 16, 2001
 
February 13, 2001


The Honorable Gary Johnson
Governor
State Of New Mexico
State Capital Bldg
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505

Dear Governor Johnson,

I would like to call your attention to an opportunity for New Mexico as a result of the Bipartisan Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act, which was passed by the 106th Congress and signed into law by the President on October 24, 2000.

The Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act would give states like ours the option of providing Medicaid coverage for low-income women who are screened and diagnosed with breast and cervical cancer through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Not only are all women in New Mexico in need of early screening and detection, but specifically Hispanic women are in great need and would benefit from this legislation.

Cervical cancer rates among Hispanic women are highest of any ethnic group other than Vietnamese women, and breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Filipino and Hispanic women. Hispanic women of ages 65 and older also have a higher incidence rate and mortality rate of cervical cancer than do Anglo women. Breast cancer rates are increasing faster for Hispanic women than for other women.

Hispanics who are diagnosed with breast cancer are less likely to survive for five years after diagnosis than are Anglo women. This is because Hispanic women are more likely to be diagnosed after the disease has spread. Though most Hispanic women get at least one mammogram, the lack of knowledge that regular screening is necessary and limited access to mammography screening services are problems faced by Hispanic women.

This is exactly why the Breast and Cervical Treatment Act is so important. The next step in ensuring that women in our state can receive this treatment is for our state Medicaid office to enroll in this important program. New Mexico can also take advantage of new Federal dollars coming in the state, as the new law provides for an enhanced match as an incentive to enroll in the treatment program.

The enhanced match is identical to that of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and in our case is one of the highest in the country. The federal share will be 82% while New Mexico will be responsible for only 18%. In addition, New Mexico’s participation in this program will likely result in decreased state costs as many women screened and diagnosed in the program are currently being treated with state funds, such as in public hospitals.

I ask you to take this next step to ensure that all women in our state diagnosed in the Federal Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, receive treatment. I look forward to working with you to provide women in our state access to high-quality treatment - and to move closer toward our goal of eradicating this disease.

Sincerely
Heather Wilson
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