ALBANY – Susan G. Komen®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization issued the following statement on the elimination of the $2.5 million funding increase for the Cancer Services Program (CSP) in final FY25 budget approved by Governor Kathy Hochul. The $2.5 million increase was included in the State Assembly’s One-House Budget proposal sent to the Governor late last month.
“We are extremely disappointed that Governor Hochul eliminated this critical increase in funding for the CSP program, which would have increased access to lifesaving early detection services,” said Molly Guthrie, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Susan G. Komen. “Without access to early detection programs, many people who are uninsured are forced to delay or forgo screenings, which could lead to later-stage breast cancer diagnoses. This delay can mean that a person may not seek care until the cancer has spread beyond the breast, making it up to five times more expensive and more difficult to treat.
CSP is housed within the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Cancer Prevention and Control and was established to provide eligible uninsured or underinsured New Yorkers with free breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings, and diagnostic testing. The program also provides outreach on public education, patient navigation and care coordination for underserved populations to help address inequities in cancer screening and diagnosis throughout all 62 counties. If an individual is found to have cancer, CSP will navigate the individual to the NYS Medicaid Cancer Treatment Program.
“Komen’s Center for Public Policy will continue to advocate for policies that ensure fair and equitable access to high-quality breast care for all New Yorkers, no matter their age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, cancer stage or socio-economic status,” Guthrie added.
More information about this effort can be found here.
