About the Initiative
Northwest Michigan Community Health Agency (NWMCHA), a four-county district health department serving Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego counties, is a regional Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) coordinating agency and additionally serves Grand Traverse County Health Department and Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department.

In response to a 20-percent decrease in BCCCP funding for FY06 and FY07, NWMCHA partnered with the Northern Health Plan (NHP), the Grand Traverse Regional Health Care Coalition (GTRHCC), and the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) to purchase additional caseload.

In FY07, the partnership transitioned from the purchasing of caseload from MDCH to expanding coverage through NHP and GTRHCC.

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Impetus for the Collaboration
20-percent reduction in BCCCP caseload in FY06 and FY07 with a high demand for service

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Results

1. 30-percent increase in the number of women served through BCCCP beyond MDCH-funded allocation
2. Expected 30-percent or higher increase in the number of women served above BCCCP allocation for FY07
3. Projected 70-percent increase in the number of women served through BCCCP partnership in FY08

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Lessons Learned
Breast and cervical cancer screening is a valued service in the community. With limited funding through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, funding partnerships on a local, state and federal level will be required to increase access to BCCCP services for women with incomes at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level.

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Collaborating Partners

• Northwest Michigan Community Health Agency
• Northern Health Plan
• Grand Traverse Regional Health Care Coalition
• Michigan Department of Community Health BCCCP, Cancer Prevention and Control Section

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MCC Recognition
"Expanding Access to Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening in Northern Michigan" received the Michigan Cancer Consortium’s 2007 Spirit of Collaboration Honorable Mention Award. The annual award is presented to member organizations that have done outstanding collaborative work to significantly move comprehensive cancer control activities forward in Michigan.

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Learn More
For more information about this project, please contact Northwest Michigan Community Health Agency Deputy Health Officer Linda Yaroch, RN, MPH, at 231-547-7621 (e-mail: l.yaroch@nwhealth.org).

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last updated: 01/17/08

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