Restore Every Woman Counts Regional Center Funding

Please Restore Every Woman Counts Regional Center Funding in the 2026–27 Budget I am writing to respectfully urge you to support restoring the $2.98 million allocated for Every Woman Counts (EWC) Regional Contractors that was eliminated in the May Revision of the 2026–27 state budget. While this funding represents a small portion of the state budget, its impact is substantial. The EWC Regional Contractors provide the training, technical assistance, quality improvement support, provider engagement, community outreach and education, and patient navigation that sustains California's breast and cervical cancer screening infrastructure. Through this work, Regional Contractors support more than 1,100 clinics and provider sites across the state that collectively serve approximately 80,000 patients each year. These contracts are not simply administrative functions. They are the backbone of a statewide network that helps clinics identify eligible patients, connect individuals to screening services, navigate enrollment processes, and ensure women receive timely preventive care. Without this support, access to lifesaving screenings will decline, particularly among low-income and underserved communities that already face significant barriers to care. The timing of this proposed cut is especially concerning. As California rolls back Medi-Cal eligibility for many residents, more women will require outreach, navigation, and assistance to access available preventive health services. Prior to Medi-Cal expansion, EWC providers served more than 140,000 patients annually. As coverage losses increase, demand for these services is expected to rise again. Reducing support for the very infrastructure that connects women to care at this moment is both shortsighted and costly. Early detection saves lives and reduces healthcare costs. When women are unable to access timely breast and cervical cancer screenings, diagnoses occur later, treatments become more expensive, and health outcomes worsen. I respectfully ask that you support restoring the $2.98 million for Every Woman Counts Regional Contractors in the final 2026–27 budget and advocate for its inclusion before the June 15 budget deadline. Thank you for your consideration and for your service to our community. I would appreciate knowing your position on this issue.