About the Program

To improve access to breast and cervical cancer screening, Congress passed the Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act of 1990, which directed CDC to create the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). The NBCCEDP funds award recipients in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 2 U.S. territories, 5 U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands, and 13 American Indian and Alaska Native tribes or tribal organizations.

In 2000, Congress passed the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act, which allowed states to offer those who are diagnosed with cancer in the NBCCEDP access to treatment through Medicaid. In 2001, with passage of the Native American Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Technical Amendment Act, Congress explained that this option also applies to American Indian and Alaska Native women who are eligible for health services provided by the Indian Health Service or by a tribal organization.

Purpose

Through the NBCCEDP, CDC helps those with low incomes who do not have adequate insurance gain access to timely breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnostic, and treatment services. NBCCEDP also provides patient navigation services to help them overcome barriers and get timely access to quality care.

In addition to funding screening and diagnostic services for those eligible, the NBCCEDP focuses on factors at the interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy levels that influence screening. The program supports use of population-based approaches to improve systems that increase high-quality breast and cervical cancer screening. These include—

Accomplishments

Since 1991, NBCCEDP-funded programs have—

• Served more than 6.1 million women.
• Provided more than 15.9 million breast and cervical cancer screening examinations.
• Diagnosed 76,890 invasive breast cancers and 24,344 premalignant breast lesions.
• Diagnosed 5,163 invasive cervical cancers and 239,291 premalignant cervical lesions, of which 38% were high-grade.

In 2021, the NBCCEDP—

• Provided breast cancer screening and diagnostic services to 263,651 women and diagnosed 2,221 invasive breast cancers and 676 premalignant breast lesions.
• Provided cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to 123,379 women and diagnosed 120 invasive cervical cancers and 5,908 premalignant cervical lesions, of which 36% were high-grade.

During 2015 to 2017, about 5.7% of U.S. women were eligible for NBCCEDP cervical cancer screening services, and the program served 6.8% of those eligible. During 2016 to 2017, about 5.3% of U.S. women were eligible for NBCCEDP breast cancer screening services, and the program served 15.0% of those eligible.