Press Releases

SHINGTON – U.S. Representatives Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-Ind.-08), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.-09), Neal Dunn (R-Fla.-02), and Troy Carter (D-La.-02) introduced the Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening for High-risk Insured Men (PSA Screening for HIM) Act, which would help increase accessibility to prostate cancer screenings by waiving deductibles, copayments, and coinsurances for certain individuals at high risk of developing this form of cancer. 

“As a doctor, I know that the key to successful treatment is early detection – especially with life-threatening diseases like prostate cancer. The PSA Screening for HIM Act will help increase access to screening for those who need it most by removing financial barriers that often stand in the way of early detection. I am proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to help increase the availability of this lifesaving preventive care,” said Dr. Bucshon.

“I remember the fear that coursed through me when I learned my own father had developed prostate cancer. And I know far too many families have experienced the same feeling. Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death for men in the U.S., and for Black men, the risk of dying from low-grade prostate cancer is double that of white men. While most men who are diagnosed with localized, low-grade prostate cancer do not usually die of prostate cancer, studies show that doctors can sometimes underestimate the risk of death from low grade prostate cancer in Black men. The PSA Screening for HIM Act would remove cost-sharing roadblocks of PSA Testing for those at highest risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer, Black males and men with family history of the disease. I’m proud to co-lead legislation to help eliminate the disparities and barriers when screening for prostate cancer,” said Rep. Clarke. 

“This year alone, nearly 300,000 men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Unfortunately, many of these cases are caught too late in the disease progression. The key to reducing prostate cancer deaths is early detection. Cost-sharing requirements hinder too many men from access to life-saving PSA screenings,” said Dr. Dunn. “H.R. 1176 will ensure that men nationwide can easily access their PSA screenings and increase their chance of defeating this deadly adversary.”

“Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer for men. In Louisiana, we have the highest rate of prostate cancer in the country. 1 in 6 Black men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime, making us 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed and 2.1 times more likely to die from prostate cancer than our white counterparts. The PSA Screening for HIM Act addresses this pressing issue by requiring private health insurance plans to cover preventative prostate cancer screenings for men with a family history of prostate cancer, without any cost-sharing requirement. I’m committed to ending this deadly disease once and for all,” said Congressman Carter.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among American men, with studies from the American Cancer Society showing that one in every eight men will be diagnosed during their lifetime. Additionally, the survival rate for prostate cancer diagnosed in early stage is near 100 percent but prostate cancer diagnosed in later stages has only a 30 percent survival rate according to Cancer.Net.