Economic Analysis of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program

CDC administers the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), the largest organized cancer screening program in the United States. The NBCCEDP provides critical breast and cervical cancer screening services to underserved low-income women in the United States, the District of Columbia, 4 U.S. territories, and 13 American Indian/Alaska Native organizations. The program provides breast and cervical cancer screening for eligible women who participate in the program as well as diagnostic procedures for women who have abnormal findings. During the past decade, the NBCCEDP has provided over 7.8 million breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic exams to over 3.2 million low-income women. Those who are diagnosed with cancer through the program are eligible for Medicaid coverage through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act passed by Congress in 2000. CDC is currently approved to collect one year of information about activity-based economic costs incurred by the NBCCEDP during the period 07/01/2005-06/30/2006 (OMB No. 0920-0776, exp. 04/30/2009). Respondents are the 68 programs participating in the NBCCEDP. Information is collected electronically through a web-based Cost Allocation Tool (CAT) and includes: Staff and consultant salaries, screening costs, contracts and material costs, provider payments, in-kind contributions, administrative costs, allocation of funds and staff time devoted to specific program activities. CDC plans to request OMB approval for the collection of two additional, consecutive years of economic information relating to the period 07/01/2007-06/30/2009.