Kaw Nation Women’s Health Program at Kanza Clinic—Making Healthcare Accessible to Local Women

For many women, routine health screenings are delayed or ignored when cost, insurance, transportation or other factors create barriers. The Kaw Nation Women’s Health Program at Kanza Health Clinic focuses on connecting eligible women with important health services throughout the year.

Hailey Hall, Project Director for Kaw Nation Women’s Health Program, noted the program helps provide women access to preventive services, including breast screenings (mammograms) and cervical screenings (Pap smears). Not only does it provide referrals, but it can also help cover the cost of appointments for qualifying people, primarily uninsured or underinsured women.

The Importance of Early Detection

The mission of Kaw Nation Women’s Health Program is straightforward: promote health and well-being; improve physical health; share knowledge with women about self-care; and establish, expand and improve community-based screening services for all women. Breast and cervical cancer screenings are an important part of their mission because mammograms help with early detection of breast cancer, while cervical screenings help identify abnormal cervical cells often before other symptoms arise.

Keeping up with recommended screening and diagnostic services allow women and healthcare providers an opportunity to find potential concerns and decide if further action is recommended. For some women, the cost of screenings often becomes a significant obstacle. Hall further clarified by explaining that “underinsured women are individuals who have medical insurance but still face substantial out-of-pocket expenses because of factors such as high deductibles, policies that do not cover mammograms and cervical screening or those needing to see an out-of-network provider.” The Kaw Nation Women’s Health Program is specifically designed to help women who are facing barriers like these gain access to preventive screening services as a part of their routine care.

Services for Eligible Women

Kaw Women’s Health Program services are coordinated throughout the year at Kanza Clinic, located at 3151 E. River Road in Newkirk, Oklahoma. Women who are interested in determining if they qualify can contact the clinic during regular hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., to learn more about eligibility, referrals, available services and benefits.

One unique aspect of this program is that it is open to both tribal and non-tribal women. Qualifying tribal women can become established as patients at Kanza Clinic, making them eligible for on-site appointments. Non-tribal women who meet qualification criteria receive referrals to participating healthcare providers at several other partnered locations, including INTEGRIS Health. Because eligibility and coverage can depend on varying individual circumstances, all interested women are strongly encouraged to contact the clinic directly for application and consideration rather than assuming they do not qualify. Women who meet the qualifying criteria receive assistance with obtaining breast and cervical screening appointments (including referrals) that are covered by the program and often free of charge to the individual.

The program's eligibility requirements include being a woman within the age range of 21-64, have no Medicare Part B or Medicaid coverage, have no medical insurance or if covered are underinsured and meet the program’s income guideline. If requesting on-site services, the woman must also be a tribal member.

A Mobile Mammogram Unit Delivers Care

One of the program’s most convenient services is their traveling mammogram initiative. Rather than requiring women to travel to another community location for breast screening, a mobile mammography unit (the mammogram bus) periodically comes to the Kanza Clinic, offering free, same day, mammogram appointments to qualifying women.

Hall mentioned, “In 2026, the traveling mammogram bus is scheduled to be on-site at Kanza Clinic on Nov. 9 and Dec. 22. Women who meet the program requirements can take advantage of the convenient mobile mammogram unit during one of these dates by contacting Kaw Women’s Health Program to schedule an appointment.” The mobile unit makes access to screenings significantly easier for local women who have delayed mammograms because of cost, travel or accessibility concerns.

Twenty Years of Serving Women

The Kaw Nation Women’s Health Program has been serving local women for approximately 20 years, demonstrating the continued need for accessible women’s health services in rural communities like Kay County. The program has experienced considerable growth since its beginning. What began as a staff of five has grown into an organization with nearly 40 employees, reflecting the widened scope of services and considerable community needs Kaw Nation and Kanza Clinic continue to provide.

The Women’s Health Program is primarily funded through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCEDP). This funding continues to increase access to breast and cervical cancer screening (providing opportunity for early detection) in populations of traditionally underserved women.

Hall says the overall goal of the program is to “help women take care of themselves by making information, referrals and screening services more accessible for all groups of women.” Preventive healthcare is designed to detect specific issues at early stages, as opposed to finding them during a more complicated health crisis. Taking the first step to obtaining preventive screening appointments begins with simple actions like reading an article, making a phone call, asking a question or finally making an appointment that has been postponed due to common limitations such as high deductibles, lack of medical insurance coverage, low income or transportation issues.

Take the Next Step

Whether a woman needs a referral, has questions about eligibility or simply wants to learn more about available resources, reaching out to Kaw Nation Women’s Health Program can be the first step toward prioritizing health and wellness. Those who are interested in learning more about the program, services, eligibility requirements for tribal and non-tribal women or upcoming mobile mammogram appointments are urged to contact the Kanza Clinic at 580-362-1039, ext. 207, or by stopping by their facility.

Every woman deserves the opportunity to put her health first by having access to preventive screenings and early-detection services. Kaw Women’s Health Program is helping turn that into a reality for more women in our local community.