If you are uninsured and have ever qualified for a free mammogram breast cancer screening offered by area public health clinics and hospitals, it may be a result of the state’s Show Me Healthy Women program offered by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). The DHSS program includes 206 providers in Missouri from local public health agencies, federally qualified health clinics, hospitals, community health centers and clinics that provide screenings and diagnostic services.
Show Me Healthy Women is funded primarily through a federal grant received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with some additional funding from state general revenue and donations.
Since 1992, the program has offered free breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings for women in Missouri who meet age, income and insurance guidelines of eligibility: income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level for household size; between the ages of 35 and 64 (65 and older if the person do not receive Medicare Part B); and no health insurance to cover the program services.
“Women referred for treatment can apply for and receive Medicaid to assist with costs related to treatment,” said Megan Hopkins, chief of public information for the DHSS. “Women can receive the screenings if they are a non-citizen, but must be a citizen if being referred to Medicaid for coverage of additional diagnostics and treatment.”
In 2017, Show Me Healthy Women provided direct support to CareSTL Health (formerly Myrtle Hilliard Davis Comprehensive Health Centers) in excess of $60,000 to screen 331 women. Annually, according to Hopkins, approximately 8,000 women are screened in the program.
“So far this year we’ve screened 183,” said Jason Ware, director of grants and contracts for CareSTL Health. “Each year, we need more and more support from Show Me Healthy Women and often have to request additional financial support to continue providing the free preventative screenings.” CareSTL Health conducted Show Me Healthy Women screenings on Friday, October 19 at its clinic on Martin Luther King Drive in St. Louis.
Providers in 85 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis offer Show Me Healthy Women services. To find a provider near you, call 866-726-9926 or visit https://tinyurl.com/show-me-healthy for a clickable county map that lists Show Me Health Women providers in your area.
