WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today announced $500,000 for Benefis Health System to acquire a Mobile Cancer Unit. The funding was included in the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee bill for Fiscal Year 2010.

"Early detection of cancer is one of the keys to beating the disease," said Rehberg, a member of the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee. "This funding will help bring the latest detection technology to Montana’s under-served rural areas, leading to more Montanans beating cancer and living full lives."

This project will provide a mobile cancer screening service to currently underserved populations in North Central Montana. The funds will help purchase digital mammography technology and a vehicle to provide on-site screening in a broad rural corridor, including four Indian Reservations.

"These funds will take cancer screening to residents of Montana’s most underserved corridor," said John Goodnow, Benefis Health System CEO. "Early screening can make the difference between a death sentence and a healing process, so these dollars have the potential to save a lot of lives. We’re really thankful Congressman Rehberg saw this need and met it in his Appropriations Subcommittee."