ACS CAN supports bipartisan legislation Aimed at removing cost barriers to prostate cancer screening.
On Sep. 14, bipartisan legislation that would eliminate financial barriers to prostate cancer screening was introduced in the U.S. Senate. Sponsored by Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and John Boozman (R-AR), the Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening for High-risk Insured Men (PSA Screening for HIM) Act would waive cost-sharing requirements for men with the highest risk of prostate cancer, focusing on Black men and those with a family history of the disease. The Senate introduction of the PSA Screening for HIM Act comes several months after the bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and Yvette Clarke (D-NY) with Representatives Neal Dunn, M.D. (R-FL) and Troy Carter (D-LA) as original cosponsors. In conjunction with ACS CAN’s federal legislative agenda, support for the PSA Screening for HIM Act is one of three specific asks to members of Congress when volunteers visit Capitol Hill on Sept. 19 as part of ACS CAN’s Leadership Summit and Lobby Day signature event.
If the legislation is passed, men at high risk of developing prostate cancer would be able to access prostate cancer screenings with no out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles, copayments, or coinsurances.
The PSA Screening for HIM Act could help reduce prostate cancer disparities. According to the American Cancer Society, the incidence of prostate cancer among Black men is more than 70% higher than in White men. Black men are also more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer when compared to White men.
“We know that financial barriers can impact a person's ability to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer,” said Lisa A. Lacasse, president of ACS CAN. “The PSA Screening for HIM Act will help remove a major obstacle that can prevent those at high risk for the disease from getting the screenings they need to find prostate cancer at the earliest, most treatable stage. We urge the House and the Senate to pass this legislation to help reduce prostate cancer disparities and save more lives.”
Advocating for the PSA Screening for HIM is one of several ways ACS CAN is supporting the IMPACT initiative to address disparities in prostate cancer incidence and mortality. ACS CAN continues to advocate for other state and federal policies that remove barriers to prostate cancer screening and treatment. This fiscal year, ACS CAN sought continued funding for the Department of Defense’s Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP), which annually targets gaps in prostate cancer diagnostics, care and treatment along with the needs of the prostate cancer community.
In addition to supporting the PSA Screening for HIM Act, ACS CAN, ZERO Prostate Cancer, the American Urological Association (AUA), and the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) are also working to pass legislation at the state level that will eliminate out-of-pocket costs and improve access to prostate cancer screenings for men who are at high-risk for prostate cancer and decide to move forward with screening after a discussion with their health care provider.
Legislation is pending in California, New Jersey, and Washington, DC. Last year, Illinois passed legislation to make prostate cancer screening available without co-pays or other cost-sharing, which will go into effect in 2024. Illinois will follow New York, which became the first state in the country to pass a law that supports full insurance coverage of the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test, along with Maryland and Rhode Island, all of which have eliminated co-pays or cost-sharing fees for prostate cancer screening.
ACS CAN’s partnership with impactful organizations to advocate for barrier-free access to prostate cancer screening for those who have had also extends to being an active member of the Prostate Cancer Impact Alliance (PCIA), a national coalition of 31 patient and physician advocacy organizations and industry representatives that advances educational research, and access to high quality care for men with prostate cancer. As a member, ACS CAN helps to provide testimonial support and opportunities for its volunteers to speak about their experiences - in addition to staying abreast of new policy proposals and potential legislations.
