A survey of state Medicaid policies for coverage of screening mammography and Pap smear services.

In the winter of 1990, we surveyed all states and the District of Columbia to ascertain Medicaid policies on screening mammography and Pap smear--two critical preventive cancer screens for women. Forty-four state Medicaid programs cover screening mammography and all 51 jurisdictions cover Pap smear services. However, the extent of coverage and reimbursement rates vary widely across states. Only a small minority of states reported age or frequency limits for screening; five of these are in conflict with nationally recommended guidelines.