Senator Atkins’ Legislation to Expand Access to Breast and Cervical Cancer Screenings and Treatment Passes Legislature

SACRAMENTO – Senate Bill 1213 passed the Senate on a unanimous concurrence vote and now heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature. The bill, authored by Senate President pro Tempore Emeritus Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), would expand access to breast and cervical cancer screenings, diagnostic services, and treatment.

“As Californians struggle with rising healthcare costs, we must do whatever we can to lessen the financial burden for our lowest income residents and ensure they can access critical healthcare services,” said Pro Tem Emeritus Atkins, “SB 1213 would provide more Californians with access to free breast and cervical cancer screenings and coverage for breast and cervical cancer treatment. These programs save lives by increasing the likelihood of detecting and treating cancer early.”

Senate Bill 1213 would increase the income eligibility threshold for the Every Woman Counts (EWC) program and the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (BCCTP) from 200% of the Federal Poverty Level – or $30,120/year for an individual – to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level – or $37,650/year. The EWC provides eligible Californians with free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services. The BCCTP provides affordable treatment options to eligible low-income California residents diagnosed with breast and/or cervical cancer. Increasing the income eligibility for these California Department of Healthcare Services programs would help improve access to care and health outcomes for lower income Californians.

SB 1213 is the latest in Senator Atkins’s efforts to expand the EWC and BCCTP programs and provide affordable breast and cervical care to California women. In 2018, Senator Atkins secured ongoing budget funding to remove the time limits on healthcare coverage through the BCCTP. In 2016, Senator Atkins authored AB 1795, which expanded eligibility for the EWC program and ensured the BCCTP could provide treatment to patients who experience a reoccurrence of cancer, regardless of whether or not it’s breast or cervical cancer.

SB 1213 is sponsored by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. It will now be sent to the Governor’s desk for his approval.

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Toni G. Atkins is President pro Tempore Emeritus of the California Senate. Having previously served as Speaker of the California Assembly, she began her tenure in the Senate in 2016. As Senator for District 39, she represents the cities of San Diego, Coronado, Del Mar and Solana Beach. Website of President pro Tempore Emeritus Toni G. Atkins: www.senate.ca.gov/Atkins