Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program: Increasing Access to Screening

Abstract

The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) provides breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women across the nation. Although the program has provided services to more than 5 million women since 1991, there remains a significant burden of breast and cervical cancer with inequities among certain populations. To reduce this burden and improve health equity, the NBCCEDP is expanding its scope to include population-based strategies to increase screening in health systems and communities through the implementation of patient and provider evidence-based interventions, connecting women in communities to clinical services, increasing opportunities to access screening, and enhancing the targeting of women in need of services. The goal is to reach more women and make sure women are getting the right screening test at the right time.

Keywords: breast cancer; cervical cancer; health equity; low income; screening.

FIG. 1.

National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program logic model. NCCCP, National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program; NPCR, National Program of Cancer Registries; MDE, minimum data elements; EBI, evidence-based interventions; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.