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Dec. 22, 2023
Dear Sage Partners:
I am writing to inform you that the Minnesota Department of Health Sage Cancer Screening Program, federally funded through CDC, received a $850,000 per year budget cut to its five-year funding cycle that began in July 2022. Despite implementing large program and staff changes, Sage must take further action to conserve resources to achieve our goal of screening as many individuals as possible.
On Feb. 1, 2024, Sage will no longer provide payment for:
- Breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services for women, including transgender males and females, 21 to 29 years of age.
- Breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services for those ages 65 and older.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
- More than one office visit CPT charge for each eligible client per date of service. Sage will pay for one office visit CPT per date of service billed on a professional claim OR one office visit CPT per date of service billed on an institutional claim.
Sage will continue to work closely with partner clinics to recruit and enroll Sage-eligible patients and pay for breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services for patients 30 to 64 years of age. Please refer to the Sage Eligibility and Covered Services (PDF) to obtain more details. Sage will also continue to connect Sage patients requiring treatment services to the MN Department of Human Services’ programs, Medical Assistance for Breast and Cervical Cancer (MA-BC) or Emergency Medical Assistance.
We will update the Sage website (mnsage.com) and materials by Jan. 22, 2024. We will post frequently asked questions (FAQs) about program changes to our website mid-January. If these FAQs do not answer your questions, Sage Clinical Services staff will be available by email or phone:
- Carlie Koberstine, Clinical Services Consultant, carlie.koberstine@state.mn.us, 651-201-4969
- Haley Storms-Kruchten, Clinical Services Coordinator, haley.storms-kruchten@state.mn.us, 651-201-4803
The Sage Program was established in 1991 and has partnered with many of you over the years. We greatly appreciate our effective partnerships and look forward to continuing provision of breast and cervical cancer screening statewide for Minnesota’s underserved communities.
Sincerely,
 Melanie Peterson-Hickey, PhD
Program Director
melanie.peterson-hickey@state.mn.us
651-201-5618
The information in this email can also be found in PDF format:
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