Answer:  Under the Breast and Cervical Health Program, patients are not to be billed for eligible services. If your medical provider is contracted with the WBCHP, and and you are currently enrolled in the WBCHP, you should not receive a bill for covered services.  A screening mammography is an eligible service when provided by a WBCHP contracted facility. Contact your medical provider and bring the mammography bill to their attention. Contact the mammography center and inform them that you are a WBCHP client. If this doesn't work, contact the Prime Contractor for your area and ask them to help you solve the problem.

Question:  What if I am diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer?

Answer:  Uninsured Washington women found to have breast or cervical cancer will now be assured of the medical treatments they need.  Read more details about treatment.

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Answer:  Washington women enrolled in WBCHP who have breast or cervical cancer will now be assured of the medical treatments they need.  If you are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer, the WBCHP Case Manager will work with you to get you enrolled in Medicaid, which will pay for your treatment.

Question:   I was enrolled in BCHP in another state and diagnosed with breast cancer there, then put on the state Medicaid program.  Now that I've moved to Washington state, can I continue my breast cancer treatment here and be put on Medicaid?

Answer:  Yes, as long as you are still uninsured and meet the income guidelines, you can contact the Prime Contractor in your area of Washington.  They will verify your previous BCHP enrollment and assist you in applying for WBCHP Medicaid.

Answer: Sometimes.  A LEEP is only covered as a diagnostic procedure after a colposcopy with biopsy does not determine final diagnosis (cancer or not cancer).

Answer:  Enrollment in WBCHP lasts for one year.  To re-enroll, simply contact the clinic where you enrolled the year before and ask to make an appointment for your WBCHP annual exam.

Question:   Why is mammography not recommended for women under age 40?   

Answer:  The reasons why mammography might be less beneficial in younger women than in older women are not entirely clear. One explanation is that the dense breast tissue of younger women can obscure abnormalities to such a degree that current mammography can’t always pick them up. Another reason is that breast cancers in younger women tend to grow faster than breast cancers in older women. This means that regular mammograms (every year) may be less likely to detect cancers in younger women. Another important factor for young women considering mammograms is the high rate of false positive results in this age group. A false positive result is one that says there’s a problem (like cancer) when in fact cancer is not present. Because so few breast cancers occur in younger women compared to older women, young women who are screened with mammography are more likely to have a false positive result. This means they will be told that they have an abnormality and will undergo follow-up tests—such as additional mammograms, ultrasounds or even biopsies only to find that they do not have breast cancer.

Question:   What should a young woman with a strong family history do?

Women with a family history of breast cancer or other concerns about their personal risk should consult with a health care provider. Although there is currently no proof of its benefit, both the American Cancer Society and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommend that women at high risk for breast cancer be screened at earlier ages and perhaps more frequently than women at average risk. In addition to standard mammography and clinical breast exam, other screening tests, such as ultrasound or MRI, may also be useful tools for detecting cancer in women at higher risk

PROVIDER FAQs

Question:   How do I sign up with the WBCHP?