BCCTP Overview
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) implemented the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (BCCTP) on January 1, 2002, as authorized by Assembly Bill 430 (Chapter 171, Statutes of 2001). BCCTP provides urgently needed cancer treatment coverage to individuals diagnosed with breast and/or cervical cancer, who require treatment and have met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) screening criteria, or were screened by a CDC provider.
Applicant Eligibility
An eligible applicant must be a resident of California with a gross family income at the time of screening and diagnosis that is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, based on family size.
Eligible applicants must be screened by a Cancer Detection Program: Every Woman Counts (CDP: EWC) or Family PACT (Planning, Access, Care and Treatment) screening provider and found to be in need of breast and/or cervical cancer treatment. Individuals may be eligible, even if they have other health coverage, as long as their premiums, co-payments and deductibles are expected to exceed $750 annually.
Eligible applicants who meet Federal requirements (female; under 65; citizen or national of the United States or satisfactory immigration status; no creditable health insurance; breast and/or cervical cancer diagnosis; in need of treatment) will receive full-scope, no-cost Medi-Cal coverage for the duration of their cancer treatment. Applicants who appear to meet the federal requirements are issued a Confirmation Document that grants immediate, temporary BCCTP eligibility, allowing them immediate access to services through any Medi-Cal provider, until a final eligibility determination is made. The applicant may use the Confirmation Document for immediate access to medical services until the applicant receives a Benefits Identification Card (BIC).
Those applicants who do not meet federal standards, but who have a breast and/or cervical cancer diagnosis, need treatment and meet state-only BCCTP standards (male regardless of age; female over 65; male or female with unsatisfactory immigration status; or creditable health insurance over $750 annually) will receive services limited to cancer treatment for a specified time period (18 months for breast cancer and 24 months for cervical cancer). Applicants who do not appear to meet the federal requirements are not granted immediate coverage of breast and/or cervical cancer treatment and will receive a Confirmation Document with the message "Application Accepted for Processing" and will be able to access breast and/or cervical cancer treatment services as soon as the DHCS Eligibility Specialist determines eligibility.
Enrolling Applicants
CDP: EWC and Family PACT providers are authorized to
screen and enroll applicants into BCCTP. These providers
enroll eligible applicants into BCCTP by using the new
Internet-based application form. To access this form,
providers should:
- Go to www.medi-cal.ca.gov
- Click the "Transactions" tab
- Enter a valid User ID and Password
- Select the BCCTP link
The BCCTP applicant must completes an application worksheet in order to help the provider complete the Internet-based application. The application work sheet and required documents are available online through Transaction Services in 12 languages, including English, Arabic, Spanish, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Hmong, Armenian, Cantonese, Korean, Russian, Farsi and Tagalog.
After reviewing the information with the applicant, the provider enters the information into the Internet-based application form and then it electronically submits the application to DHCS. The provider will then receive a Confirmation Document, which indicates eligibility status. A copy must be given to the applicant. The enrolling provider will then mail the application, the application worksheet and the Rights and Responsibilities form, each with the applicant's original signature to DHCS.
DHCS Eligibility Specialists review each Internet-based application form to complete the determination of BCCTP eligibility. The specialist may require additional information from the applicant to determine eligibility.
More Information
Providers seeking more information about the internet application process should review the Application Process Overview and the Resource Guide.