Free Mammograms Available at Select Franciscan Health Locations in Central Indiana
Screenings made possible through Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust license plates
Women in need of mammograms in Central Indiana may be able to receive them free of charge thanks to a grant to Franciscan Health from the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust.
The grant supports mammograms at Franciscan Health Breast Center Indianapolis, Franciscan Health Indianapolis Imaging Greenbrooke in Greenwood and Franciscan Health Breast Center in Mooresville.
“Franciscan Health is blessed with the opportunity to collaborate with the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust to provide free screening mammograms to women based on their household income,” said Megan Rowland, imaging manager for Franciscan Health Central Indiana. “This grant covers the cost of needed breast cancer screenings and diagnostic imaging regardless of someone’s ability to pay and augments Franciscan’s commitment to the community to detect and diagnosis breast cancer early.”
The grant funds are awarded by the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust, Inc. (IBCAT), the mission of which is to increase awareness and improve access to breast cancer screenings, diagnoses and support services across Indiana. The efforts are made possible through the sale of breast cancer awareness special recognition license plates as well as financial donations.
Each license plate sold through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles generates a $25 donation.
Grant money is primarily used to cover screening mammograms, but can be applied to diagnostic imaging, ultrasounds, MRIs and procedures on a limited basis. The total amount for the 2024 grant for Franciscan Health in Central Indiana was over $19,000.
The program provides screenings for uninsured women who falls at or below the 300% poverty level and live in Marion, Morgan, Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson or Shelby counties. Women who apply, must be 40 years of age or older, but includes those under 40 with a family history of breast cancer.
To apply for the program in Central Indiana, call (317) 528-7201.
About Franciscan Health
The Franciscan Alliance healthcare ministry began in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1875. Today, Franciscan Alliance is one of the largest Catholic health care systems in the Midwest with 12 hospital campuses, more than 19,000 employees and a number of nationally recognized Centers of Health Care Excellence. Hospitals include: Franciscan Health Carmel; Franciscan Health Crawfordsville; Franciscan Health Crown Point; Franciscan Health Dyer; Franciscan Health Indianapolis; Franciscan Health Lafayette; Franciscan Health Michigan City; Franciscan Health Mooresville; Franciscan Health Munster; Franciscan Health Olympia Fields (Illinois); Franciscan Health Orthopedic Hospital (Carmel) and Franciscan Health Rensselaer.
About Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust, Inc. (IBCAT)
Since the Breast Cancer Awareness special group recognition (SGR) license plate was first made available in 2002, $7 million has been distributed by the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust (IBCAT) through competitively awarded grants to organizations throughout Indiana for innovative projects for breast cancer screening, diagnostic and support services not otherwise available to medically underserved populations in Indiana. In addition, over $131,500 has been awarded in scholarships to high school seniors who have lost a parent to breast cancer or have a parent currently battling the disease.
The mission of the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust, Inc. is to increase awareness and improve access to breast cancer screening, diagnosis and support services throughout Indiana. Indiana residents may purchase an Indiana breast cancer awareness special group recognition license plate by visiting any Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch, online at IN.gov/BMV, or on a BMV Connect kiosk for an annual $40 fee, $25 of which is a direct tax-deductible donation (to the extent of the law). The plate may be purchased for display on passenger motor vehicles, motorcycles, trucks with a declared gross weight of not more than 11,000 pounds, and recreational vehicles.
The Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness SGR license plate was the brainchild of the late Nancy Jaynes, a Plymouth (IN) High School family and consumer sciences teacher. Nancy lost her battle with breast cancer in March of 2008. Her vision that the license plate be a traveling billboard and reminder about the importance of early detection of breast cancer is alive and making a difference to thousands of Hoosiers.
For more information or to make a direct donation to the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust, please visit our website at www.BreastCancerPlate.org.