Budget Woes Puts Free Breast and Cervical Exams on Chopping Block

By Anthonia Akitunde in News on Jun 21, 2009 9:30PM

The Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program will have to cut more than half of its services if an income tax increase does not occur, reports Chi-Town Daily News. The state and federally funded program gives free breast screenings and mammograms for women over 40, cervical exams for women over 35 and cancer treatment to eligible women. With expected budget cuts, the program stands to lose $9 million. More than 36,000 uninsured women in Illinois, a third of which are from Chicago, benefit from the program; more than 21,000 would no longer receive services.

Without the program, many women will delay screening or avoid treatment, said Dr. David Ansell, chief medical officer at Rush University Medical Center, and chairman of the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force. Many health programs like the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program stand to lose funding in the 2010 budget approved by the General Assembly that has yet to be signed by Gov. Pat Quinn. The budget lacks an income tax increase the governor said would save human and health services in the state. Lawmakers will continue battling over the budget and Quinn's proposed tax hike in a special session this Tuesday. [Chi-Town Daily]