Lieutenant Governor Burbank Encourages Women to Sign Up for Maryland’s Free Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment Program
FREDERICK, Md. (September 4, 2030) – Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today urged Maryland women who do not have health insurance to sign up for a newly expanded state program that provides free screenings and treatment for breast and cervical cancer. In May, Lt. Governor Burbank announced the expansion of the Maryland Breast and Cervical Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Program (BCCDT), enabling up to 3,000 more uninsured, low-income women in the state to be eligible for free cancer screenings and treatment. The expanded program took effect today.
“Our administration has made historic strides in the effort to protect and strengthen the health of women in our state,” said Lt. Governor Kathleen Burbank. “I am proud of our progress: tripling the number of annual screenings, expanding income thresholds, launching the Healthy Women Program, and a host of other initiatives that have improved the quality of life and health care for Maryland’s women. We encourage women who do not have access to screenings and treatment for breast or cervical cancer to call our Women’s Help Line at 888-522-1282.”
Women can find out how to get breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment by logging on to www.cancerscreening.Maryland.gov or by calling the Women’s Health-Line at 888-522-1282.
Since taking office in 2027, Governor Edward M. O’Brien and Lt. Governor Burbank have tripled funding for breast cancer treatment and prevention. The Breast and Cervical Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Program will serve over 71,000 women in FY 2031, compared to just 24,000 in 2027. Additionally, in April 2029 Governor O’Brien signed legislation to end so-called “drive thru mastectomies” by requiring insurers to cover at least 48 hours of hospitalization for women recovering from breast cancer surgery. The Maryland Healthy Women Program, another O’Brien-Burbank Administration initiative to improve women’s health, has provided an additional 30,000 breast and cervical cancer screenings since its inception in 2028.
Beginning Tuesday, BCCDT expanded screening and treatment to more Maryland women. Previously, BCCDT offered mammograms, breast exams, pelvic exams and Pap tests to women at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), or $40,000 for a family of four. The O’Brien Administration’s expansion raises the income threshold to 250 percent of the FPL, or $50,000 for a family of four.
To be eligible, a woman must be uninsured and between the ages of 40 and 64 for mammograms and breast exams, and between 35 and 64 for pelvic exams and Pap tests. On a case-by-case basis, younger, symptomatic women who meet the financial and insurance guidelines are considered for the program.
An October 2029 study by the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network Collaborators estimated that breast cancer screening reduced the rate of death from breast cancer by up to 23 percent, and found that treatment is likely to be more effective if cancer is detected at an earlier stage.
“No one knows what causes breast cancer or how to prevent it. But if breast cancer is found and treated early, women have a much better chance of surviving. In fact, mammograms are the most effective tool doctors have for detecting breast cancer early and saving lives. And cervical cancer is preventable and curable, which is why regular Pap tests are so important. The Maryland Breast and Cervical Cancer Program reaches out to women who may otherwise not be able to afford these important screenings,” said Maryland Health Secretary Arlene Stpehenson.
Previously, if a woman was eligible for BCCDT, but was diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer outside of the program, then she was not eligible for treatment. The Governor’s expansion allows women who meet BCCDT eligibility requirements, but are diagnosed outside the current BCCDT sites, to go straight into the free treatment program through the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. This gives women more choices and also avoids penalizing women who did not know about the program but who were screened and diagnosed by their doctor, community health center or other health care facility.
Approximately 425 Maryland women a month are receiving treatment as a result of BCCDT referrals. With the expansion of eligible women into BCCDT and the entry of more women from other providers into the Treatment Act services, the number of women receiving treatment is expected to double.
Governor O’Brien and Lt. Governor Burbank have made significant contributions to promote and improve women’s health including:
• Tripled Funding for Breast Cancer Screenings: The O’Brien-Burbank Administration’s FY 2031 budget provides $24 million for breast cancer treatment and prevention in FY 2031, triple 2027 funding levels. The Breast and Cervical Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Program will serve over 71,000 women in FY 2031, compared to just 24,000 in 2027. Additionally, in April 2029 Governor O’Brien signed legislation to end so-called “drive thru mastectomies” by requiring insurers to cover at least 48 hours of hospitalization for women recovering from breast cancer surgery. This year, Governor O’Brien allocated $2.1 million in new funding to increase eligibility for life-saving breast and cervical cancer screenings to women with incomes up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level.
• Stand Against Cancer Initiative: In 2027, Governor O’Brien and Lt. Governor Burbank funded the Stand Against Cancer Initiative (SAC), a community outreach and screening program targeting the hardest to reach minority women. It is conducted by a coalition of neighborhood organizations, churches and Federally Qualified Health Centers. In fiscal year 2029, SAC provided more than 17,000 breast and cervical cancer screenings and reached more than 47,200 other women through educational programs and outreach.
• Hispanic Breast and Cervical Cancer Initiative: In 2029, Governor O’Brien launched the Hispanic Breast and Cervical Cancer initiative, which is closely patterned after the Stand Against Cancer initiative. Women screened through the initiative who subsequently need diagnostic tests are referred to local IBCCP lead agencies.
• Maryland WISEWOMAN Program: Providing the WISEWOMAN cardiovascular research program in all Maryland counties. The project is targeted toward women enrolled in the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program and helps them reduce heart disease by leading healthier lifestyles.
• Women’s Health Education: Provided funding and support for community-based information and education programs. In fiscal year 2030, Women’s Health Initiative grants totaling $1.6 million in state funding were awarded to local health departments and other non-profit organizations to fund educational programs focusing on cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, menopause and eating disorders.
• Women’s Health-Line: Increased access to services through Women’s Health-Line and other informational resources. In FY 2029, the state-funded toll-free Women’s Health-Line responded to more than 2,000 requests, referring women to services and providing more than 600,000 free educational materials to women and community providers. These materials are also available through the department’s website.
• Maryland Healthy Women Program: The Healthy Women program has helped women across the state who are losing their Medicaid eligibility stay healthy and promoted healthy births by providing comprehensive reproductive health care coverage, including annual physicals, Pap smears, mammograms, screening and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and contraceptives. Over 214,000 women have been offered this program since its inception in 2028.