What to know
- Through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, CDC helps those with low incomes who do not have adequate insurance gain access to timely breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnostic, and treatment services.
Purpose
To improve access to breast and cervical cancer screening, Congress passed the Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act of 1990, which directed CDC to create the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). The NBCCEDP funds 71 award recipients across the United States.
In 1993, Congress amended the act with the Preventive Health Amendments of 1993 to authorize CDC to fund American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and tribal organizations through the NBCCEDP. In 2000, Congress passed the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act, which allowed states to offer those who are diagnosed with cancer in the NBCCEDP access to treatment through Medicaid. In 2001, with passage of the Native American Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Technical Amendment Act, Congress explained that this option also applies to American Indian and Alaska Native women who are eligible for health services provided by the Indian Health Service or by a tribal organization.
Through the NBCCEDP, CDC helps those with low incomes who do not have adequate insurance gain access to timely breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnostic, and treatment services. NBCCEDP also provides patient navigation services to help them overcome barriers and get timely access to quality care.
In addition to funding screening and diagnostic services for those eligible, the NBCCEDP focuses on factors at the interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy levels that influence screening. The program supports use of population-based approaches to improve systems that increase high-quality breast and cervical cancer screening. These include:
- Implementing evidence-based interventions in health systems.
- Connecting those eligible in the community to screening services.
- Informing policies that increase access to cancer screening.
Introduction to the NBCCEDP
This video explains how the NBCCEDP started and how it has helped women for more than 30 years.
Accomplishments
Since 1991, NBCCEDP-funded programs have:
- Served more than 6.4 million women.
- Provided more than 16.5 million breast and cervical cancer screening examinations.
- Diagnosed 79,789 invasive breast cancers and 25,302 premalignant breast lesions.
- Diagnosed 5,291 invasive cervical cancers and 248,569 premalignant cervical lesions, of which 38% were high-grade.
In program year 2023, the NBCCEDP:
- Provided breast cancer screening and diagnostic services to 273,989 women and diagnosed 1,970 invasive breast cancers and 688 premalignant breast lesions.
- Provided cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to 129,082 women and diagnosed 87 invasive cervical cancers and 6,206 premalignant cervical lesions, of which 34% were high-grade.
During 2015 to 2017, about 5.7% of US women were eligible for NBCCEDP cervical cancer screening services, and the program served 6.8% of those eligible. During 2016 to 2017, about 5.3% of US women were eligible for NBCCEDP breast cancer screening services, and the program served 15.0% of those eligible.
Cervical cancer services include Pap test, human papillomavirus (HPV) test, and diagnostic services funded by NBCCEDP.
Breast cancer services incude mammogram, screening magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), clinical breast exam, and diagnostic services funded by NBCCEDP.