NASHVILLE, Tenn. – April 24, 2024 – The Tennessee legislature passed HB 2954/SB 2883 Tuesday, becoming just the sixth state to pass a bill that would enhance coverage of prostate cancer screenings for high-risk men. The state’s “PSA Screening For HIM” bill would eliminate cost-sharing for these lifesaving screenings, thus reducing barriers and increasing access to care for men over 40 who meet certain risk factors.
It’s estimated more than 6,000 Tennesseans will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024. Some are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer than others, including African American men and those who have a first-degree relative with a prostate cancer history. Prostate cancer survival rates increase when detected early, highlighting the importance of access to screenings.
In response, Maddie Michael, Tennessee government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), released the following statement:
“This is a great opportunity for Tennessee to be a nationwide leader in legislation that helps reduce the cancer burden. ACS CAN fully supports the PSA Screening for HIM Act because all men at high-risk for prostate cancer and those who have made an informed decision with their doctor to get screened should have access to screening that is barrier-free without cost-sharing.
“We are encouraged by the extensive bipartisan support around this legislation and thank the numerous co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle. We also sincerely thank Rep. G.A. Hardaway, Sen. Sara Kyle and Sen. Raumesh Akbari for championing the legislation.
“We urge Gov. Bill Lee to sign the PSA Screening for HIM Act as soon as possible so this can start making a difference in the lives of Tennesseans.”