NJ Cancer Screening Program Funding Slashed In Proposed State Budget

NEW JERSEY — A program that provides free cancer screening to New Jersey residents is facing a massive funding cut under Gov. Phil Murphy's proposed budget for the new fiscal year.

If passed, Murphy's budget would slash funding for ScreenNJ, a partnership between Rutgers University, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the state Department of Health.

In Murphy's budget, ScreenNJ is set to receive $1.5 million in the coming fiscal year, down from $3 million this year and $4 million in previous years, a spokesperson for Rutgers confirmed.

"Since its inception, ScreenNJ has screened more than 110,000 Garden State residents and detected nearly 10,000 early-stage or pre-cancerous lesions and 4,000 cancers at treatable stages, saving thousands of lives across the state," Rutgers Director of Public Relations Megan Florance said. "Without this funding, ScreenNJ cannot continue."

According to the program's website, ScreenNJ works with health care and community organizations across the state to increase screenings for breast, cervical, colorectal, genetically-linked, HPV-linked, lung, prostate and skin cancers.

The program also supports health care agencies and community organizations that provide education on, refer patients to or directly provide screening services for cancer.

"These include centralized education and statewide navigation services, as well as community grants that provide cancer screenings, education, and care coordination for underserved, low-income populations," Florance said.

If Murphy's budget passes with the proposed cuts to ScreenNJ, the program could be forced to lay off 75 percent of patient navigators and half its staff dedicated to education, Dr. Steven Libutti, director of the Rutgers Cancer Institute, told Spotlight NJ. It would also lead to a 90 percent reduction in grants to community-based organizations.

The changes “will have a dramatic impact in our ability to continue to catch up after the COVID-19 pandemic,” a period when cancer screenings fell nationwide, Libutti told members of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee during a public hearing to gather feedback on Murphy’s spending plan.

Gov. Murphy delivered his final budget address in February, outlining the $58.1 billion proposal that includes $1.2 billion in increases or new fees or taxes, $6.3 billion in surplus, and $2 billion in spending reductions.

Lawmakers are expected to finalize and pass the budget in the coming months. Murphy must sign it by July 1.