Texas to extend Medicaid benefits to cover breast, cervical cancer

Health and Human Services secretary Tommy Thompson on Monday approved a request to extend Medicaid benefits to uninsured women in Texas diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer. Under the federal Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000, states can apply for a waiver allowing them to expand their Medicaid programs to cover women under age 65 who are screened through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and found to have either of the cancers. Texas is the 46th state to receive a waiver for the cancer coverage. Federal funds pay for 85% of the extended coverage, with state tax dollars covering the remainder of the cost. The expanded coverage in Texas will begin later this month.