U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) is advocating for legislation to increase insurance coverage for prostate cancer screenings during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. The bipartisan bill, known as the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Screening for High-risk Insured Men (HIM) Act, was introduced with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). It would require private health insurance plans to cover preventive prostate cancer screenings at no cost to men considered at high risk.
Prostate cancer is diagnosed in a man every two minutes in the United States and is the second most common cancer among men globally after lung cancer. One in eight American men will be affected by prostate cancer, with African American men facing a higher rate of one in six. Early detection of prostate cancer leads to a nearly 100 percent survival rate.
The PSA test is currently regarded as the most effective tool for detecting prostate cancer. Increasing access to this screening could improve health outcomes and save lives.
“Like many other Americans, my family has experienced the impact of prostate cancer,” said Boozman. “Increasing access to screening for this disease can spare millions of men and their families from its worst outcomes. I am proud to lead this policy effort with the support of Arkansans deeply engaged in keeping prostate cancer treatable and survivable.”
Supporters of the bill include advocacy organizations such as the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).
“The Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation heartily supports the efforts of Senator Boozman to expand insurance coverage for prostate cancer screenings for high-risk men,” said Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation Executive Director Chris Collier. “When detected early through screening, a diagnosis can lead to treatments that are far more effective and achieve favorable outcomes. The senator’s efforts will provide more opportunities for men to be screened and will undoubtedly help save more lives.”
“The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) continues to support the PSA Screening for HIM Act. We believe that all individuals at high risk for prostate cancer who decide to move forward with screening after an informed decision-making discussion with their health care provider should have barrier-free access to that screening with no required cost-sharing,” said ACS CAN Arkansas Government Relations Director Matt Glanville. “We thank Sens. Boozman and Booker for introducing this bipartisan legislation and look forward to continuing our work with them to get this bill passed.”
“Out-of-pocket costs such as co-pays can be a barrier to accessing early detection,” said American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network President Lisa A. Lacasse. “No one should be at a disadvantage against cancer. 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 screening tests 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.”
The full text of the bill is available online.
