The Florida Legislature has provided level-funding for the Mary Brogan Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program in the 2021-2022 budget. Every year, the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation’s (FBCF) Advocacy Committee pushes diligently to protect or expand funding for this critical program. Our committee of breast cancer advocates worked persistently during its FBCF Virtual Advocacy Days in January to ensure legislators were aware of the impact that funding cuts for this program would have on Floridian women with breast cancer--delayed screenings lead to late-stage diagnoses, and delayed care leads to more challenges in treatments and sometimes less favorable health outcomes.
The program, also known as the BCCEDP, is a federal-state partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Florida Department of Health and provides life-saving breast cancer screening and diagnostic services to uninsured and underinsured women. In Florida, more than 1 million uninsured women will continue to struggle without access to affordable health coverage. Ensuring the viability of this program helps approximately 15,000 women annually gain access to the mammograms and care they would not otherwise be able to afford.
We give our sincere thanks to Senate President Wilton Simpson, House Speaker Chris Sprowls, Speaker Pro Tempore Bryan Avila, Senator Kelli Stargel, Senator Aaron Bean, and Representative Jay Trumbull for their support on this matter that will positively impact many women in Florida.
We also thank our steadfast team of FBCF advocates for their commitment, passion, and drive to helping us ensure ALL women have access to screenings and care, no matter their income or where they live.