CALDWELL, Idaho — A triad partnership in Caldwell is making cancer screenings more accessible.
Caldwell Night Rodeo (CNR), West Valley Medical Center, and Terry Reilly Health Services are working to provide mammogram screenings for women in underserved communities in Southwest Idaho.
Terry Reilly Health Services says some women in underserved communities face barriers with language, transportation, childcare, being underinsured or lacking insurance altogether.
The partnership was created to combat some of the financial barriers to receiving breast cancer screenings.
CNR is providing funding for the cost of mammograms and other accommodations that may be preventing women from getting screenings.
When asked if there would be a future budget cap for this initiative, Nicole Cassity, Caldwell Night Rodeo Marketing and Sales Manager said, "One thing that's really great about our community is when there's a need, people rally to fill the need. And so, whether the need is large or the need is small, they always figure out a way to meet it."
Terry Reilly Health Services is responsible for seeking out women that may need a mammogram screening and are unaware of this free resource. Using their patient navigator services, they are in the process of reaching out to hundreds of women in Canyon County and say they’re planning to find women in Owyhee County next.
"Some of the patients, because they're uninsured, they limit themselves going to the doctors because they want to avoid that medical bill. And sometimes it's a lack of knowing how important this screening is," said Sandra Valdez, patient navigator lead at Terry Reilly Health Services.
West Valley Medical Center is conducting the screenings at their West Valley Women’s Imaging Center.
"This is just such a wonderful contribution from the Caldwell Night Rodeo and the community to come together for these critical screenings for women. We never want funding to stand in the way of these critical screenings for women," Kaycee Emery, director of marketing and public relations at West Valley Medical Center, told KTVB Tuesday.
For women that participate in this initiative and receive a mammogram, funds will also be provided for follow-up care found necessary on their mammogram results.
Some factors that make individuals immediately eligible are lack of insurance, having a high deductible, or specific income criteria.
If you are interested in finding out about eligibility, you can reach out to Terry Reilly Patient Navigators or visit West Valley’s Medical Center website.