Community health centers in Palo Alto
These 3 federally funded clinics in Palo Alto offer pap smear on a sliding-scale fee schedule and see patients regardless of insurance or immigration status.
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Mayview Community Health Center Palo Alto A Member Of Ravenswood Family Health Network
Palo Alto, CA 94306-1911
Sliding-scale fees Uninsured welcome 650-327-8717 -
Peninsula Healthcare Connection
Palo Alto, CA 94301-2343
Sliding-scale fees Uninsured welcome 650-853-0321 -
Valley Health Center - North County
Palo Alto, CA 94303-4753
Sliding-scale fees Uninsured welcome 669-663-4017
Need a colposcopy in Palo Alto? Start with the same clinics
If your pap smear or HPV test comes back abnormal, the usual next step is a colposcopy: a 10 to 15 minute exam where a clinician looks at the cervix with a magnifying scope and, if needed, takes a small biopsy. It is how abnormal cells get diagnosed before they can become cancer.
The community health centers listed above provide pap smear screening, and many perform colposcopy on-site or refer you to a partner clinic that does. Call and ask two questions: whether they do colposcopy on-site, and whether you qualify for NBCCEDP coverage, which pays for diagnostic follow-up after an abnormal result, not just the screening itself.
California's free cervical cancer screening program
If you are uninsured or under-insured, California runs a NBCCEDP program that covers pap smear and follow-up at no cost for residents who qualify.
Every Woman Counts