The Breast and Cervical Cancer Services program helps fund clinics across the state to give high-quality, low-cost and accessible breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to women. Eligible clients receive these services free of charge. Regular screening tests might find precancerous tissue or cancer early, when treatment is likely to work best.
Services
The BCCS provides the following services:
Screening Services
The following exams and tests are used to detect cancer when no symptoms are present:
- Clinical breast examination: A health care provider, such as a doctor or nurse, looks at and feels the breast and underarms for skin changes or lumps during a health check-up.
- Screening mammogram: An x-ray picture of the breast used to find breast cancer.
- Pelvic exam: A health care provider, such as a doctor or nurse, looks at and feels the outside and inside of the vagina and genital area for changes associated with cancer or other problem.
- Pap test (Pap smear): A test that checks the cervix for abnormal cells.
- Case management and education.
Diagnostic Services
Exams and tests used to detect cancer when symptoms are present or to check an area of concern on a screening test.
- Diagnostic mammogram: An x-ray picture of the breast used to find cancer. This mammogram provides more pictures using different angles than a screening mammogram does. A diagnostic mammogram often is performed if the screening mammogram has an area that needs to be seen more clearly.
- Breast ultrasound: A test that uses sound waves to take a picture of the inside of the breast.
- Breast biopsy: Removal of a small amount of tissue from the breast to check for abnormal cells.
- Colposcopy: A healthcare provider looks at the cervix with a special microscope.
- Loop Electrosurgical Excisional Procedure (LEEP): Removal of abnormal cervical tissue using a thin wire loop with an electric current.
- Cervical biopsy: Removal of a small amount of abnormal tissue from the cervix.
- Case management and education
Cervical Dysplasia Management and Treatment
Follow-up services and treatment of abnormal cells found on the cervix are as follows:
- LEEP
- Cervical cryotherapy: Removing abnormal cervical cells by freezing them.
- Cervical conizations: Treating abnormal cervical cells by removing a cone-shaped area of tissue from the cervix and cervical canal.
- Case management and education
Help Applying for Medicaid for Services
MBCC is a Medicaid program that helps women to get treatment for breast and cervical cancer. Services include:
- Help filling out the application;
- Initial screening for eligibility;
- Determination of a qualifying diagnosis; and
- Case management and education.
Handbooks
- Breast and Cervical Cancer Services Policy Manual
- Breast and Cervical Cancer Services Billing Guideline (PDF)
Rules and Legislation
As a grantee of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), HHSC Breast and Cervical Cancer Services is partly funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Congress established the NBCCEDP in 1991 by enacting the Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-354). NBCCEDP was reauthorized in April 2007.
State Rules
Texas Administrative Code, Title 26, Part 1, Chapter 371, Breast and Cervical Cancer Services
Federal Legislation
Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000
National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
For more than 25 years, the Center for Disease Control’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program has provided low-income, uninsured, and underserved women access to timely breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services.
The site includes research, links to state programs and data related to breast and cervical cancer.
Contact Information
Texas Health and Human Services
Breast and Cervical Cancer Services, MC 0224
1100 W. 49th St.
P.O. Box 149347
Austin, TX 78714-9347
Phone: 512-776-7796
Fax: 512-776-7203
Email: BCCSProgram@hhsc.state.tx.us