UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Objective: Nebraska received its Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Cooperative Agreement in 1991 and began screening women in the fall of 1992. An assessment of the State's existing medical system left little choice but to begin to develop a centralized screening and billing system. Services would be provided through a predominately private provider network. Program will assist potential public health providers of screening services to identify the strengths as well as the weaknesses of operating a statewide program utilizing a predominately centralized system.

Methods: Nebraska utilizes a multi tiered approach to assessing and evaluating services delivered and provided across the state to enhance and improve the program, including cost analysis, screening reach, quality of service delivery, and data analysis. Continuous quality improvement has continued to make the program stronger by providing more streamlined services and required documentation from providers. Utilizing a centralized screening program has allowed the program more opportunities to provide one stop shopping, offering multiple services, and integration of funding and partnering resources.

Results: Nebraska's Breast and Cervical Cancer program has expanded its services offering not only breast and cervical cancer screening but cardiovascular and diabetes screening along with lifestyle interventions, and colorectal cancer screening. The program screens approximately 9-10,000 women annually at an estimated cost of $182 per client for direct screening services, including case management for breast and cervical cancer screening. Over two thirds of the State's 93 counties have screened at least 80% of the eligible population through the program.