Addabbo Brings No-Cost or Low-Cost Mammography Screenings to Forest Hills

Urges Women: “Don’t Take a Summer Vacation from Life-Saving Cancer Screening”     

Queens, NY,  August 26, 2011 – On Thursday, September 8, between 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., is sponsoring No-Cost or Low-Cost Mammogram Screenings with Multi Diagnostics Services at the American Legion, 107-15 Metropolitan Avenue, Forest Hills. An appointment is necessary; call the Senator’s Howard Beach office at 1-718-738-1111. Uninsured women ages 40+ and NY State residents (or 35 and older, if insured) are urged to have a screening for cancer and a clinical breast exam.  

This is the eighth mammography event the Senator has held in his district since October 2008. Explains Senator Addabbo, “We know that early detection of breast cancer can save lives. Once again, I worked with Multi Diagnostics Services to offer no-cost or low-cost vital health care services for uninsured women ages 40+, or insured women ages 35+, who have had no mammograms in the last 12 months.”  For women without health insurance, services will be paid for by the Cancer Screening Program of NY (CSPNY)  if their income is no higher than 250% of the 2011 Federal Poverty Guidelines. No co-pay is required—see chart attached. For women with insurance, they must wait a year between each screening mammogram unless there is a finding that requires another screening in the short term. In that case, the prior mammogram films would be need before the short-term follow-up could be done. Most plans cover a mammography screening at age 40 and older. Women between the ages of 35-39 are usually covered for one baseline mammogram. It is each patient’s responsibility to know how often their insurance carrier pays for mammograms. Insured women will be required to pay a co-pay, if required by their insurance coverage. Insurances accepted by Multi Diagnostics Services are listed on the attached chart.  On the day of the mammogram, women with health insurance must bring their membership card with them, to verify the specific plan the patient has and that it is active.  

On the day of your screening, it is recommended that you wear a two-piece outfit and that you do not use any oil, powder, deodorant, or perfume in the breast, underarm or chest area. 

In addition to a mammogram performed by a certified, licensed mammography technologist, professional medical services from Multi Diagnostics Services will include: 

·        Clinical breast exam and instruction in breast self-exam by a trained professional

·        Radiological interpretations performed by Board Certified Radiologists

·        Results will be sent to each woman and/or her doctor within 10 business days (please provide staff with full name, address to send results to the doctor)

·        If you provide staff with previous mammogram films, a comparison radiological study will be done, which in some cases eliminates the need for additional testing. 

Senator Addabbo notes, “My next No-Cost Mammography Screening is set for Saturday, November 19, between 9 AM – 3 PM, outside the Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 78-15 Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven. It is necessary to call my Howard Beach office to make an appointment. 

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