St. Martin Hospital Offering Free Screenings to Eligible Patients

St. Martin Hospital (SMH) is offering free breast screening mammograms for women through a grant funded by Susan G. Komen. The grant, presented in June worth $74,988, provides the means to conduct free screening mammograms for uninsured and underinsured women, as well as deliver education and navigation services. Lafayette General Foundation worked with Komen to secure the grant on behalf of St. Martin Hospital.

St. Martin Hospital has made it a priority to actively fight breast cancer by trying to provide at least 300 free mammograms. The goal is to diagnose cancer cases earlier, with the hopes of improving survivability. “By increasing the number of mammograms, we expect to increase the number of breast cancer diagnoses at an earlier stage,” says Bryan Laperouse, FACHE, Interim CEO at SMH.

Patient eligibility depends on various factors, including age, financial status and insurance coverage. Who qualifies?
Women between 40 and 64 years old, or women between 21-39, with a first-degree family history of breast cancer
Income at or less than 200% of the 2015 national poverty level (an annual income of $23,540 or less, or $1,961 per month for a family of one)
Does NOT have Medicare Part B and/or Medicaid
A doctor’s order is required. If a candidate does not have a physician, help is available. For more information, or to make an appointment, call (337) 507-1209. Mention “Susan G. Komen grant.”

If an abnormality is found, diagnosis and treatment could be provided under the Louisiana Breast & Cervical Health Program (LBCHP) at University Hospital & Clinics (UHC) in Lafayette.

UHC staffs a Patient Navigator to assist patients with making or rescheduling appointments and overcoming any obstacles that may prevent them from accessing treatment. The Patient Navigator can also assist patients applying for Medicaid “Fast Track to Coverage” enrollment.

According to the LBCHP, Louisiana’s breast cancer death rate exceeds the national average. This is, in part, due to late or incurable state diagnosis of the disease. The LBCHP reports that much of Acadiana is included among the state’s highest incidences of breast cancer.