Who We Are
The Ladies First Program is a cooperative effort among health care providers, including mammography facilities and laboratories, the Vermont Department of Health, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The purpose of the Ladies First Program is to identify risks and cancers at their earliest stages by screening when lifestyle interventions and treatment are most likely to be successful and prognosis optimal. To this end, Ladies First provides Vermont standards for timeliness for screening, diagnostics, case management and treatment to enhance patient health outcomes.
Ladies First does this by encouraging screening for breast and cervical cancer, as well as cardiovascular risk factor screening. The program also covers case management, lifestyle intervention and referral for treatment.
Ladies First is the Vermont branch of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) and the Well Integrated Screening and Evaluation For Women Across the Nation Program (WISEWOMAN). Unlike many other states’ programs, Ladies First also offers heart-health care.
The national public health program has provided access to cancer screening for nearly 4.0 million low-income, under-insured and uninsured women. The program has provided almost 9 million breast and/or cervical screening exams over the past 20 years and detected thousands of cancers.
Mission
The mission of Vermont’s Ladies First breast and cervical cancer and cardiovascular risk factor screening program is to plan, promote and implement programs of education that focus on improving diet, physical activity and other life habits for Vermont women who are of limited income and are uninsured or underinsured. Also available is screening to reduce morbidity and mortality rates, through early detection, of breast and cervical cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Ladies First at a glance
- Ladies First pays for: mammograms, clinical breast exams, pelvic exams, cervical Pap tests, instruction in breast self-exam and cardiovascular disease risk-factor screening (cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes).
- Ladies First also covers follow-up mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies and colposcopies. The Ladies First Case Manager also verifies patients’ eligibility and diagnosis to obtain cancer treatment for up to 5 years.
- One in four Vermont women age 40-64 is income eligible for Ladies First.
- In most cases, Ladies First exams are provided by the woman’s own doctor or nurse.
- Ladies First can cover transportation to and from medical appointments for any members who need help, as well as reimburse for child care and elder care.
- Ladies First members are eligible for free nicotine replacement therapy (patch, lozenges or gum) and counseling to help quit smoking.
Eligibility
The Ladies First Program provides annual examinations for Vermont women who are age 21 or over,
See Eligibility Chart Here. Membership is based on Vermont residency, age, number in household and being at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. Number in household is based on anyone living in the household who is related by marriage, civil union or a dependent child related by birth or adoption.
Ladies First members will be referred for full Medicaid coverage if breast or cervical treatment is needed. Members can have private health insurance including Catamount. If the member has insurance, the insurer must be billed first, and the member will be responsible for any co-pays and deductibles that apply. Ladies First is unable to enroll or cover women who have VHAP, Medicaid or Medicare Part B. VHAP, Medicaid and Medicare Part B offer these checkups.
Ladies First providers and program staff truly understand Vermont women. Whether it’s taking into account sensitive cultural and social differences or fears and concerns about medical issues, we understand how to put women at ease. The Ladies First program reaches women throughout the entire state of Vermont.
What Ladies First pays for
Breast and cervical cancer and cardiovascular disease screenings for women of limited income. Office visits should include all three screenings. Refer to the list of approved CPT codes to verify covered services: 2013 Ladies First Schedule of Fees
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Type of Service |
Screenings | Diagnostics Tests | Referral for Treatment |
Breast Screening
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Ladies First members referred for full Medicaid coverage during treatment. Contact Ladies First:1-800-510-2282 |
Cervical Screening
OR
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Ladies First Members referred for full Medicaid coverage during treatment. Contact Ladies First:1-800-510-2282 |
Cardiovascular Disease Screening
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Refer women to the Ladies First Lifestyle program:* (802) 652-4139 Smoking cessation: * The Ladies First Lifestyle program provides goal-setting and educational materials for nutrition, physical activity and tobacco cessation offered by phone, mail, or email. |
How we got here
In 1990, Congress passed the Breast and Cervical Mortality Prevention Act, which authorized the creation of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). Today, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) support breast and cervical cancer screening programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 12 American Indian and Alaskan Native tribes or tribal organizations and 5 U.S. territories.
The NBCCEDP is the collaborative work of the CDC and state health departments. The support and advocacy of national, state and local partners such as the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Avon Foundation, have been invaluable in the growth and success of the program. In addition, a vast number of health care providers, community outreach workers and others have worked across communities to provide access to breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnostic evaluation and treatment referrals to women who otherwise may not have had access to these services.
The Well Integrated Screening and Evaluation For Women Across the Nation Program (WISEWOMAN) consists of 21 CDC-funded WISEWOMAN programs in 20 states (2 programs in Alaska) and tribal organizations.
Ladies First milestones
| 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2003 | 2010 |
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| Congress passes Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act of 1990. Pilot programs launched in selected states (not Vermont). | Ladies First Program Launches. This is the first year national funding expands to Vermont. |
Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act passes; Ladies First now covers treatment for up to 5 years via special Medicaid option program.
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Ladies First expanded to include cardiovascular risk factor screening | Celebrates 15th anniversary |
