WMHP PROVIDER Updates, Highlights & Prevention Insights: Issue 10-May/June2026

ISSUE NUMBER TEN - MAY/JUNE 2026
Women's & Men's Health ~ News You Can Use ~ PROVIDER Updates, Highlights & Prevention Insights
WMHP Mission: Ensure Nebraska women and men have access to cancer screening and prevention resources. WMHP Vision: Nebraska Women and Men Living Healthy and Cancer Free Lives

Women's & Men's Health is GRATEFUL for its Providers!

May is Women’s Health Month and June is Men's Health Month!  Women’s and Men’s Health Program (WMHP), inclusive of Every Woman Matters (EWM) and the Nebraska Colon Cancer Screening Program (NCP) want to remind you that we are here for YOU….so YOU can be there for your patients!

WMHP is just shy of turning 35 years old!  October of 2026 will mark 35 years for Nebraska’s federally funded Every Woman Matters Program. Since 1991, we not only have been helping women with breast and cervical cancer screenings but throughout this time we’ve added cardiovascular and diabetes screening services as well as colon cancer screening for men and women.  We could not have done it without you!

Because of you, EWM is able to help women receive lifesaving screening for breast and cervical cancer and cardiovascular disease.  Between 1992 and 2025 EWM served over 100,000 women and provided: 

• 288,021 Mammograms and Cervical Cancer Screenings
• 125,614 screening mammograms and 10,009 diagnostic mammograms performed
  • 1,431 women diagnosed with breast cancer
  • 100% received treatment supported by Medicaid or other sources

• 152,398 cervical cancer screenings performed
• 15,116 diagnostic services provided
  • 3,723 women diagnosed with cervical pre-cancer
  • 99 women diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer
  • 100% received treatment supported by Medicaid or other sources

Since its inception in 2000, Nebraska's WISEWOMAN (WW) Program, integrated into EWM, has screened over 34,000 women for cardiovascular disease.  In 2009, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released a report highlighting Nebraska's WW Program citing a 5.4 percent reduction in 10-year estimated chronic heart disease risk and a 7.5 percent reduction in five-year estimated cardiovascular disease risk.  More recently between 2019 and 2025, EWM has provided cardiovascular screenings to 3,773 women.  The preventive screenings found:

• 84% are obese (BMI >25)
• 51% had hypertension
• 58% had high cholesterol
• 22% had diabetes
• 21% are current smokers

WMHP began offering colon cancer screening in 2005.  To date, over 80,000 screening tests including FOBT, FIT, and colonoscopy have been offered to women and men across the state.  1,274 individuals were identified with suspicious colon polyps or lesions.  All were referred or navigated to follow up care and treatment. 

35 years of impact.  Still here!  Still serving!

The EWM Screening Program provides breast and cervical cancer screening tests to women who qualify for the program. Women who enroll in the program are eligible for a Well Woman Check Up including pelvic exam, Pap test, clinical breast exam and screening mammogram. It also provides heart disease and diabetes screening including, a blood pressure check, cholesterol check, blood sugar (glucose) check, and health and wellness information. To qualify for the EWM Screening Program, one must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident, woman aged 35 to 64 without insurance, and be within 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (i.e. a family of 4 could have a household income of up to $80,375). Health status is not a factor in program eligibility, as long as you fit the program criteria.

The EWM Diagnostic Program is another great resource for women in Nebraska. The diagnostic program pays for diagnostic procedures (further follow up) following an abnormal screening exam.  EWM breast diagnostic services including breast ultrasound, diagnostic mammograms, surgical consultations and breast biopsies. EWM cervical diagnostic services include colposcopies and consultations. To qualify for the EWM Diagnostic Program one must be a woman aged 18 to 74 (for breast diagnostic services), aged 21 to 74 (for cervical diagnostic services), and meeting income requirements. Program participants may have insurance. All participants must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent resident.

The Nebraska Colon Cancer Screening Program (NCP) provides colon cancer screenings to men and women in Nebraska who are 45 to 74.  Enroll your patients in NCP by calling (800) 532-2227 or enroll them today online:  bit.ly/EWM-NCP-HLQ.   Your patients may also fill out the online FIT Kit Request Form to request a FREE at-home colon cancer test kit.

Help us continue to provide preventive screenings to Nebraskans in need.  If you would like more information about WMHP you can visit the website here.

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If you have patients that are losing or changing their insurance coverage remember that EWM may be able to assist them with well-woman visits.  Enroll them today online:  bit.ly/EWM-NCP-HLQ or scan the QR code below to access the online Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire.