Bill > S297

This bill requires group health plans and health insurance providers to cover prostate cancer screenings without cost-sharing for high-risk men aged 40 and over, specifically targeting African-American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer. The legislation is driven by alarming statistics about prostate cancer, including that it is the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States, with 1 in 44 men dying from the disease and over 310,000 estimated to be diagnosed in 2025. The bill defines "family history" broadly, including men who have a first-degree relative diagnosed with, who developed, or died from prostate cancer, or who have genetic alterations associated with increased prostate cancer risk. By mandating these screenings without out-of-pocket costs, the bill aims to reduce barriers to early detection, especially for populations at higher risk, given that early-stage prostate cancer has a nearly 100% survival rate compared to only 37% for late-stage detection. The amendments to the Public Health Service Act will take effect for health plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, and do not prohibit insurance providers from offering additional preventive services beyond the recommended screenings.

Health and Social Services

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/297/all-info