New York, NY – New York State Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF, Manhattan) hosted a rally in the state’s Legislative Office Building in Albany today to convey the importance of maintaining funding levels in the state budget for Cancer Screening Programs (CSP), an initiative that provides no cost breast, cervical and colon cancer screenings to uninsured and underinsured women and men throughout New York State. Funding for CSP has been reduced for two consecutive years and advocates are seeking to maintain its present allocation of $21 million. This year, screening services are also lumped in with other cancer programs, but without any dedicated dollar amount.

“I am committed to fending off any more cuts to the Cancer Services Program, which actually saves our state $46 million annually through early detection and treatment,” said Assemblymember Rosenthal. “Our state’s financial standing has forced us to make difficult decisions about what we consider essential funding, but I believe that this life-saving program is incapable of sustaining another round of reductions. Cuts have resulted in 15,000 fewer mammograms provided last year than the year before and the state has now reduced its commitment to reaching 20% of uninsured women to an unacceptably meager 10%. In January, my office hosted a mobile mammography van that identified 8 women in need of further testing in one day alone.”

At her event, Assemblymember Rosenthal was joined by representatives from the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, volunteers, cancer survivors and Kristen Dalton, Miss USA 2009 whose platform includes promoting greater awareness of breast and ovarian cancer prevention. Assemblymembers Earlene Hooper, Ellen Jaffee, Annette Robinson, Michelle Schimel, Steve Englebright and Felix Ortiz also participated in the event to advocate for this cause. Volunteers presented thousands of signed postcards from across the state testifying to the level of support for CSP funding.

“New York needs to transition to a more preventive care-based system,” said Assemblymember Rosenthal. “Instead of detecting cancer too late for effective treatment, we can break down barriers to testing and reach out to high-risk communities that are especially vulnerable.”

This event is particularly timely given recent data from the Department of Health, which shows there has been a sharp reduction in the number of uninsured women over 40 years of age who are offered mammograms this year. As more people lose their jobs and health coverage in this recession, ensuring access to early detection services is not only a life saver, it is a money saver. Failing to adequately fund this program puts women’s health in jeopardy.

The event was timed to maximize influence over the New York State 2010-2011 fiscal year budget which is due on April 1.

Assemblymember Rosenthal (D/WF) represents the Upper West Side of Manhattan and parts of Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen.