Save the Cancer Services Program!

Women need access to life-saving mammography
We Can’t Afford to Back Down From the Fight Against Breast Cancer—Especially in Tough Economic Times.
Cancer advocates and women around the state are wondering if Albany is turning its back on breast cancer.

First, the current budget passed in April 1009 capped the Cancer Services Program at $8Million LESS than what they spent the year before (which was $29 million). And now the Governor wants to cut this life-saving program by an additional $1 million. This move will leave thousands of uninsured women without access to life-saving cancer screening and treatment.

Why is this program, which predominately serves women, subjectedto a nearly one-third cut, significantly more than other programs?

Breast cancer affects more women in New York than any other cancer, and an estimated 2,550 New Yorkers will die from the disease this year. We can't afford to leave New York women without access to life-saving cancer screening!

The reduction in available funds is already hurting New Yorkers – uninsured women are already being turned away from cancer screening. This year, in some regions, such as Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens and Westchester, the Program is on pace to screen fewer than half of the uninsured women served last year.

We need your help TODAY!
Please call your New York State Legislator and tell them
"SAVE THE CANCER SERVICES PROGRAM"
Call you New York State Senator at 518-455-2800
Call your New York State Assemblymember at 518-455-4100

Here are talking points you can use in your call:

The NYS CANCER SERVICES PROGRAM (CSP) offers lifesaving breast, cervical and colon cancer screening and treatment to people without health coverage in every county of New York. Operating through 47 Partnerships--a network of more than 5,000 hospitals, clinics and doctors' offices--they provide the only hope of cancer testing for New Yorkers with little or no insurance.

SAVE LIVES and MONEY, DIAGNOSE CANCER EARLY
Detecting cancer early, when it is most treatable, saves lives and it also saves money. The New York State Department of Health estimates the cost of the Cancer Services Program in the last year was offset by $46 million in savings due to early detection.

GROWING DEMAND…
As more people lose their jobs and health coverage in this recession, the demand for these services is constantly growing. It’s estimated that 550,000 New Yorkers are eligible for CSP services. Last year, 80,500 were screened, that’s less than 20% of the eligible population

…but FEWER DOLLARS
In the FY09-10 budget, the CSP should have been funded at a minimum of $29 Million, which would have maintained (but not increased) the number of clients served. Instead, funding was slashed by $8M to $20.3M. This is causing the program to turn away uninsured women.

Now, the Governor is proposing an additional cut of $1Million. That would be a 30% reduction in program funds since April 2009! Why are uninsured women being targeted in budget cuts? Enough! Save the Cancer Services program!