Women in Starke and LaPorte Counties may qualify for vouchers to cover the cost of mammograms and some diagnostic follow-up procedures. The LaPorte Hospital Foundation is offering the assistance to low-income, uninsured or underinsured women age 40 and older, and women of any age who are at high risk for breast cancer.
Women should contact their physician’s office to see if they qualifyAny healthcare provider in La Porte or Starke County may request a voucher for their patients by contacting La Porte Hospital Foundation by email contact@laportehospitalfoundation.org.
The LaPorte Hospital Foundation received a grant from the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust (IBCAT), Inc. to assist with early detection. IBCAT funds the grant through the sale of the state’s breast cancer awareness license plates. Since the plate was first made available in 2002, the program has funded more than 16,000 screening mammograms for underserved Hoosier women, and awarded more than $1.2 million in grants to support the programs.
IBACT’s mission is to increase awareness and improve access to breast cancer screening and diagnosis throughout Indiana. It’s funded in part through the purchase of the Indiana breast cancer awareness license plate. Of the $40 specialty plate fee, $25 is a direct tax-deductible donation to the IBCAT. The plate can be purchased for use on passenger cars, trucks and recreational vehicles up to 11,000 pounds, and motorcycles.
It was the brainchild of late Plymouth High School Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Nancy Jaynes. She lost her battle with breast cancer in 2008, but 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.
Visit in.gov/bmv to learn more about the plate. Fore more information about IBCAT, call 866-724-2228 or visit breastcancerplate.org.
