Low-income, uninsured or underinsured women in Starke and Marshall Counties may qualify for free screening mammograms and some diagnostic follow-up procedures. Vouchers are available for women who are 40 or older who meet those guidelines or women of any age who are at high risk for breast cancer.
Women who believe they qualify for a screening mammogram can call IU Health Starke Hospital Director of Diagnostic Imaging Josephine Klicek at 574-772-1143 and leave a confidential message. Any physician in Starke or Marshall Counties may issue vouchers to patients. Physician office representatives should call The LaPorte Hospital Foundation office at 219-326-2471 for a supply of vouchers.
The LaPorte Hospital Foundation, on behalf of Indiana University Health Starke Hospital and the Starke Health Fund recently received a $4,500 grant from the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust (IABCT) in support of the LaPorte Hospital Foundation Breast Cancer Project. It works to create a comprehensive effort for early breast cancer detection. The grant is the result of ongoing efforts to find funding partners to support community-wide efforts to provide clinical breast exams and mammograms.
IBCAT funds the grant through the sale of the state’s breast cancer awareness license plates. Since 2002 when the plate was first made available, the program has funded more than 16,000 screening mammograms and awarded more than $1.2 million in grants to support the programs.
The specialty plate was the brainchild of the late Nancy Jaynes, a Plymouth High School Family and Consumer Sciences teacher. Nancy lost her battle with breast cancer in 2008. Her vision that the license plate be a traveling billboard and reminder about the importance of early detection and prevention of breast cancer is alive and making a difference to thousands of Hoosiers. The plate is available from any Bureau of Motor Vehicles license branch or by visiting in.gov/bmv for passenger cars, trucks, recreational vehicles up to 11,000 pounds and motorcycles. Of the $40 specialty plate fee, $25 is a direct tax-deductible donation to the IBCAT. Visit breastcancerplate.org or call 1-866-724-2228 for more information about the IBCAT.
