Letter from Jessica Whitney

CSP There for Those In Need

The Cancer Services Program of the Central Region serves individuals in Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie, Oneida, Herkimer and Madison counties.

We are a New York State grant funded program, which Bassett Healthcare holds the grant for. We help New York State residents who are uninsured or underinsured get free cancer screenings for breast, cervical and colorectal.

CSP wants to ensure that everyone has equal opportunity to be screened for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer regardless of the healthcare barriers they face.

By covering people who are not insured, everyone has an opportunity to prevent colon and cervical cancer through screening and to detect breast cancer early, when treatment results in lower rates of mortality.

Screening tests can prevent cervical and colorectal cancers by finding abnormal cells before they become cancer so that they can be removed. Screening tests for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers also find these cancers early, when treatment may work best.

Because there are some New Yorkers who remain uninsured, CSP plays an important role in acting as second payer for the many New Yorkers who can be described as “under-insured.”

This means high deductibles or co-pays that may otherwise deter people from getting their screenings done. CSP can act as a second payer for those who have insurance but face unmanageably high deductibles and co-pays when further diagnostics are needed to screen for these cancers.

If the screening test finds something abnormal, diagnostic (follow-up testing) services are available through the CSP for eligible people at no cost. Follow-up tests are done to find out if what was found on the screening is, or isn’t, cancer. The CSP will also provide a case manager who will guide you through your follow-up diagnostic appointment. Additionally, CSP is a DQE, designated qualifying entity, for the Medicaid Cancer Treatment Program.

Our staff enrolls people who have been diagnosed with cancer and meet program qualifications so that their medical needs and their cancer treatment are covered until treatment is complete.

Jessica Whitney
Oneonta
Cancer Services Program Public Education & Community Outreach Coordinator