Early stage or localized prostate cancer refers to cancer that is still confined to the prostate. Learn more and find questions to ask your doctor so you understand your diagnosis and treatment options.
The Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening for High-risk Insured Men Act of 2023 (H.R. 1826/S. 2821)
WHAT IS THE PSA SCREENING FOR HIM ACT?
The PSA Screening for High-risk Insured Men Act, introduced in the Senate by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and John Boozman (R-AR) and in the House by Representatives Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN) and Yvette Clark (D-NY), would require health insurance providers to offer PSA screenings without any cost-sharing requirements (co-pays, deductibles, or co-insurance) for African-American men or men with a family history of prostate cancer between the ages of 55 and 69.
Only 33% of African-American men aged 50 or older had a PSA test in 2018.
WHY ARE PSA TESTS SO IMPORTANT?
The Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test is the most effective tool we have right now to detect prostate cancer, and, most instances of prostate cancer are initially detected with this test. PSA is a substance made by the prostate, and the levels of PSA in the blood can be higher in men who have prostate cancer. By testing the PSA levels, we are able to detect possible signs of prostate cancer. The earlier the disease is caught, the higher the survival rates: prostate cancer caught in Stage 1 is almost 100% survivable. However, if caught at a later stage, survival rates plummet to below 30%.
Men with at least one close family member with prostate cancer are at least 2x the risk for prostate cancer ; risk increases with each affected family member.
WHY IS THIS BILL SO IMPORTANT?
Studies have shown that even the smallest amount of cost-sharing is a barrier to access for many. Too many men in vulnerable groups delay getting tested for prostate cancer, which decreases their odds for survival. This bill would require insurance providers to cover PSA tests for the highest- risk patients at no cost, similar to other high- value cancer screenings such as mammograms. With an estimated 299,000+ men in America being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2024 alone and an estimated 35,250+ deaths, the urgency to act has never been greater.
African-American men are 1.7x more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 2.1x more likely to die from the disease.
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