On November 28, the Senate passed, by unanimous consent, a bill (S. 1741) that would allow Native American women access to optional Medicaid treatment for breast or cervical cancer as established under the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-354). The bill makes a technical correction to the law, which inadvertently prohibited women receiving their health care through the Indian Health Service from qualifying for the benefit.
The bill is sponsored by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). The House companion bill (H.R. 1383) is sponsored by Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM).
