More Than $1 Million for Mammogram Services in Rural Maine Secured by Senator Collins

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced today that she secured $1,027,000 to establish a mobile mammography service for Piscataquis and Somerset counties in the Fiscal Year 2022 Health and Human Services Appropriations bill.  

The omnibus funding package passed the House and the Senate and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among American women, and nearly 90 percent of cases are metastatic breast cancer,” said Senator Collins.  “This critical funding will ensure patients living in rural communities can receive the quality care and support they deserve.  I strongly advocated for this investment to help prevent, detect, and treat all forms of breast cancer.”

“Mammography is a critical service for our rural region,” said Marie Vienneau, president of Northern Light CA Dean Hospital and Northern Light Mayo Hospital, and senior vice president, Northern Light Health.  “Traveling mammography services would allow us to reach all of the rural areas in our region providing local and timely access to this service.  We are grateful to Senator Collins for recognizing that need and including us in this package.”

Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital will use this funding Senator Collins secured to purchase a mobile van and mammography equipment.  The rural mobile mammography van will travel to rural locations in Piscataquis and Somerset counties, providing local access to mammography services.

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