November 15, 2001 - Low and moderate-income women can now get financial help in fighting breast and cervical cancer through the FREE to Know program

Low and moderate-income Kansas women, screened through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and found in need of treatment, are now eligible for Medicaid coverage. Medicaid is the state/federal health insurance program, managed by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS).

Under the new program, women receiving coverage must be uninsured or under-insured and have incomes below 250 percent of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, 250 percent of the poverty level is annual earnings of $44,013. For one person, 250 percent of the federal poverty level is $21,475.

Coverage is only available to women screened, diagnosed, and found in need of treatment through the CDC program. In Kansas, the CDC program is called FREE to Know, and is administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).

Coverage under Medicaid became possible when Congress passed the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention Act of 2000. SRS Secretary Janet Schalansky said Kansas chose to participate in the program by offering the insurance coverage because there was a definite need. According to KDHE, nearly 1,600 Kansas women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, and about 100 new cases of invasive cervical cancers are diagnosed yearly.

"Low and moderate income women diagnosed with these diseases faced huge medical expenses," Schalansky said. "This helps fill a gap."

Women wishing to access the FREE to Know program may do so at 785-296-1207, or toll-free at (877) 277-1368. KDHE will put callers in touch with a FREE to Know outreach nurse in one of the six regional offices across the state, who in turn will put them in touch with the closest enrolled medical provider. Information about the FREE to Know program, including a list of outreach nurses and enrolled providers, is also available on the web at www.kdhe.state.ks.us/ftk/index.html