Mississippi State Department of Health

The Mississippi Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCP) strives for early detection of cancer in women at highest risk, including the uninsured, the medically underserved, minority, and elderly women. These women are more likely to have advanced disease when symptoms appear, reflecting differences in access to screening and care. The program provides education and promotes
access to free screenings for breast and cervical cancer provided in partnership with providers across the state. BCCP has a broad network of over 110 contracted providers offering BCCP-supported services at over 300 sites. These providers include Federally-Qualified Community Health Centers, health department clinics, private providers, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, surgeons, radiologists, medical oncologists, and laboratories throughout the state. With federal (CDC) and matching funds, mammography screening is available through contracted providers to uninsured women between 50 and 64 years of age. Women under 49 years old and younger with positive breast symptoms are eligible for diagnostic breast screenings. Asymptomatic women 40 to 49 years old are eligible for screening mammograms only when special funding is available and with prior approval. Timely follow-up and support is provided for all women with clinical findings through their enrolling providers. Timely referral to Medicaid for women diagnosed with cancer is provided directly through the BCCP clinical staff.

“Mississippi BCCP proudly partners with a broad network of providers across the state to help women gain access to much needed breast cancer screenings and diagnostic services. As we move forward with promoting early detection as the best protection against breast cancer, we are grateful for the generous support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation as a funding partner. This partnership allows us to expand our reach to women in need, who would not otherwise be served under more restricted eligibility.
Supporting women to access screening services sooner allows for cancer to be detected at earlier stages, when it is more easily treated, resulting in better outcomes for Mississippi women.” — Krista Guynes, BCCP Program Director