Breast and cervical cancer: early detection screening: digital mammography: reimbursement rates.

Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income persons are provided with health care services, including breast and cervical cancer services. Under existing law, the State Department of Public Health participates in a grant program through the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide breast and cervical cancer early detection screening. Providers participating in the grant program may only provide screening services to individuals whose family income does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty level, and provider rates are required to be identical to the rates under the Medi-Cal program. This bill would, until January 1, 2014, authorize, to the extent permitted by federal law, digital mammography screening to be covered when film or analog mammography services are not available from the provider, to be reimbursed at the Medi-Cal film or analog rate.