Governor Cuomo Launches Statewide Grassroots Campaign to Highlight New Breast Cancer Screening Initiatives and the Importance of Early Detection

“Early detection is the best way to beat breast cancer,” Governor Cuomo said. “When breast cancer touched our family, we made it a mission to help ensure no New Yorker had to experience the anguish, anxiety and uncertainly that we did. We have advanced the most robust breast cancer screening program in the country that knocks down barriers and makes sure every woman – regardless of her financial background or busy schedule – can catch and treat this disease early. Until we cure breast cancer once and for all, we will continue to raise awareness about early detection to make sure all of our residents are getting screened, no excuses." ​

The Governor kicked off the campaign at an event at the Dyckman Houses in Washington Heights today with State Senator Adriano Espaillat, Assemblyman Guillermo Linares, Public Advocate Letisha James, and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. Governor Cuomo, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul and state commissioners, in partnership with breast cancer advocates, will travel across the state to hold events and promote the importance of early detection. At each location, a team of staff members from the Department of Health will be canvassing and distributing flyers with locations and phone numbers of hospitals offering extended hours so that New Yorkers can find a screening location near them.

In June, Governor Cuomo signed legislation to build upon $91 million in investments outlined in the 2016 State of the State Address to increase awareness and screening for breast cancer, including a public awareness campaign, community outreach programs, patient navigators, and mobile mammography vans. The legislation and campaign will:

• Require more than 200 hospitals and hospital extension clinics to offer extended hours of screening for at least four hours per week to help women who have difficulty scheduling mammograms during the typical 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. workday. These hours include 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday or Sunday;
• Eliminate annual deductibles, co-payments, and co-insurance payments (“cost-sharing”) for all screening mammograms, including those provided to women more frequently than current federal screening guidelines such as annual mammograms for women in their forties;
• Eliminate cost-sharing for diagnostic imaging for breast cancer, including diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and breast MRIs for women at high risk for breast cancer. As a result, women in need of tests other than standard mammograms will not have to pay any additional out-of-pocket expenses for these most common diagnostic tests;
• Add public employees of cities with a population of one million or more, to the population of public employees in New York State who are currently allowed four hours of leave for screening for breast cancer each year. Current state law requires all public employers to provide their employees with four hours of leave each year for breast cancer screening. Now public employees in New York City will receive the same benefit as all other public employees statewide.
• Offer guidance throughout the screening process with Patient Navigators
• Bring screenings to communities statewide with the new mobile mammography vans​

For more information on breast cancer screenings and support, call the New York State breast cancer hotline at 1-866-442-CANCER (2262). The line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can assist non-English speaking callers. New Yorkers can also text "Get Screened" to 81336 to find a screening location with extended hours near them.