Barriers to Breast Cancer Care
In 2016, Ninez Ponce led a team from the UCLA Centers for Health Policy Research and Cancer Prevention & Control Research to conduct the inaugural CBCRP health policy initiative. They conducted an assessment of the significant barriers and challenges to accessing breast cancer care in California through the completion of three key tasks: (1) a synthesis of the peer reviewed literature, news media, reports and policy briefs, (2) conduct of a series of key informant/stakeholder interviews, and (3) an analysis of social media. They provided insight on barriers unique to the insurance status of women, specifically for the uninsured, those covered by Medi-Cal, and those covered by commercial insurance.
They found that the siloed system of providers, insurance and support services for women with breast cancer are presenting major barriers and that no single insurance status exempts women with breast cancer from the possibility of facing the barriers identified in the study.
On January 12, 2017, the team held a legislative briefing entitled ''Breaking the Barriers to Breast Cancer Care: Exploring Policy Options'', co-sponsored by the California Latino Legislative Caucus, researchers from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research to present their findings and opportunities for legislative actions.
Speakers:
-
Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento);
-
Ninez Ponce, associate director, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research;
-
Sarah de Guia, executive director, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network; and
-
AJ Scheitler, report co-author, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
-
Veronica Vera, breast cancer survivor
Read the Sacramento Bee article and visit the Barriers to Breast Cancer Care in California site to learn more about this briefing and the report outcomes.
Read the Report about Barriers to Breast Cancer Care