MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare; Appropriations

By: Representatives Scott (80th), Bailey, Bozeman, Broomfield, Clark, Clarke, Coleman (65th), Evans, Middleton, Myers, Smith (27th), Thomas, Thornton, Walker, Watson

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SHALL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PILOT PROJECT IN ONE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICTS OF THE STATE IN WHICH THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE CERTAIN TESTS FOR CANCER AT NO CHARGE TO THE PERSONS BEING TESTED; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A REPORT OF THE RESULTS OF THE PROJECT, INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF PERSONS TESTED AND THE OUTCOME OF THE TESTS, TO THE LEGISLATURE, TOGETHER WITH A RECOMMENDATION ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY OF EXPANDING THE PROJECT TO OTHER AREAS OF THE STATE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAY DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES FOR RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS ON THE VALUE OF THE EARLY DETECTION OF CANCER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The State Department of Health shall develop and implement by October 1, 1999, a pilot project in one (1) of the public health districts of the state in which the department shall provide bilateral mammograms, Pap tests and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests at no charge to the persons who are tested.

(2) The department shall conduct the pilot project for at least two (2) years after its implementation.

(3) The department shall collect data on the number of persons tested in the project and shall make determinations about the outcome of the tests. The names of the persons tested and any other means of identification shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed to the public.

(4) The department shall provide a report of the results of the project, to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2002. The report shall contain a recommendation about the feasibility of expanding the project to other areas of the state.

(5) The department may accept grants, services and property from the federal government, foundations, organizations, medical schools and other entities as may be available for the purposes of fulfilling the obligations of this project.

(6) The department shall seek any federal waiver or waivers that may be necessary to maximize funds from the federal government to implement this project.

(7) The department may design and implement strategies for raising public awareness on the value of the early detection of cancer.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.