New Funding Aims To Make Breast Cancer Screenings More Accessible

North Dakota Health and Human Services is launching a $1.5 million funding opportunity aimed at expanding access to breast cancer screenings for women in rural and underserved parts of western North Dakota through a mobile mammography unit.

State health officials say the initiative is designed to reduce barriers many women face when seeking routine screenings, including long travel distances, time away from work and limited access to nearby imaging services.

Breast cancer affects about 1 in 8 women during their lifetime, and early detection remains critical to improving survival rates. When detected early, five-year survival rates can exceed 99%, according to health officials.

“When preventive care is available close to home, people are more likely to use it,” said HHS Commissioner Patrick Traynor. “Where you live should not determine how easily you can access potentially lifesaving screenings. By bringing mammography services directly into rural communities, we can help more women receive recommended screenings, detect cancer earlier and improve health outcomes across North Dakota.”

The funding will support the development and operation of a mobile unit equipped with 3D mammography technology, allowing providers to deliver advanced breast cancer screening services directly to communities where access is limited or nonexistent.

Approximately $1.5 million in first-year funding is available through the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program, with one award expected to be granted to an eligible organization serving western North Dakota.

Eligible applicants include integrated health care systems, rural hospitals or clinic networks serving multiple counties, federally qualified health centers, and tribal governments or health organizations working to address screening gaps on reservation lands.

Applications are due by June 30, 2026, at 5 p.m. Central Time. State officials will host a technical assistance call for interested applicants on June 11.

More information about the funding opportunity, including application materials and assistance resources, is available through the North Dakota Health and Human Services website.

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The Rural Health Transformation Program is funded through a nearly $199 million financial assistance award from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. State officials noted that the program’s contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of the federal government.