Eliminating Barriers to Early Detection Out-of-pocket costs are an unnecessary barrier to discovering and addressing prostate cancer, and it has an outsized impact on lower-income, people of color, and those who don't have ready access to quality healthcare. Jump To Jump To Federal Initiatives State Initiatives Early detection continues to be the most effective means to saving lives from prostate cancer. Breaking down barriers to screening (especially for patients at high risk) is one of our top priorities at both the federal and state levels. We aim to eliminate out of pocket costs for patients being screened for prostate cancer, no matter where they live.Prostate cancer has remarkable similarity to other forms of cancer in terms of incidence, average age of new diagnoses, and mortality rates. But unlike other forms of disease, patients who get screened for prostate cancer often have to cover the costs of coinsurance, co-pays, deductibles, or denied coverage. The Facts: Early Detection Saves Lives 99% of Patients Are able to survive prostate cancer if its detected early Barriers to Getting Screened Often come down to out-of-pocket costs such as coinsurance, co-pays, and deductibles. Black Men are 2X More Likely to Die Chiefly due to a lack of access to testing and quality care. Early detection of prostate cancer saves lives. That is why I meet with my elected representatives to ensure that high-risk populations such as Black men can get tested early for prostate cancer, and with the fewest barriers possible. — Eddie Wright PSA Screening for HIM ActOn the Federal level, that effort currently takes the form of the PSA Screening for HIM Act, which would protect high-risk individuals from cost sharing in the form of copays, co-insurance, and deductibles. Early Detection Saves Lives Federal Legislation ZERO asks elected officials to support for simple, common-sense legislation that will eliminate the cost of screening for people who have high risk of developing prostate cancer. View the one-pager ZERO Cost to Prostate Cancer Screening InitiativeAs the most common form of cancer in men, prostate cancer screening should be affordable and accessible. ZERO leads legislation that will make prostate cancer screening free and accessible to all men. Early screening is the best preventative measure against the disease, which often presents no symptoms.Barriers to Getting ScreenedCan include out-of-pocket costs, such as coinsurance, co-pays, and deductibles, as well as transportation, awareness, and other challenges. State EffortsAt the state level, ZERO leads the charge to connect with legislatures and introduce legislation to eliminate cost-sharing for prostate cancer screening. Our bold goal is to make screening free in 25 states by 2030. Making Testing Free: Early Wins Expand All New York In January 2019, New York became the first state in the country to pass a law that supports full insurance coverage of the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test, which helps determine prostate cancer risk. Maryland In early 2020, ZERO and local advocates in Maryland helped pass a bill at the Maryland State House that will remove prostate cancer screening cost-sharing for men ages 40-75 in the state. The law went into effect in January 2021. Read editorials from legislators and patients in support of this effort.With prostate cancer being the most diagnosed male-only cancer in the state, this legislation has the power to catch the disease early and save lives and prevent any financial barriers to care. Rhode Island In April 2021, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed legislation that would eliminate cost-sharing for prostate cancer screening. Under this new benefit, men in Rhode Island will not pay any out-of-pocket costs for prostate cancer screening received from an in-network provider beginning on January 1, 2022. Illinois On June 10, 2022, Illinois Governor Pritzker signed into law HB 5318. It was introduced by State Representative La Shawn K. Ford, a prostate cancer survivor and passed both chambers in late April. HB 5318 will save the lives of countless men in Illinois by eliminating cost sharing for prostate cancer screening and follow-up diagnostic testing, including imaging. Getting involved in my state's effort to remove cost-sharing from prostate cancer screening was such an amazing opportunity. Not only did I help make an impact in the lives of men, but I became even more connected and active in my local prostate cancer community! — Judy Berman, Caregiver Get involved: you can make a difference! Patient and caregiver stories make a difference! We need your voice to help improve access to testing without cost-sharing. By sharing your story, you’ll help:Provide context to strengthen screening and incidence dataGive personal narratives that demonstrate the need to remove financial barriers to screeningBe part of a passionate and powerful community of advocatesZERO’s state-by-state strategy to zero out costs for prostate cancer screening is now focused on California and Texas with additional states to come. Sign up for advocacy alerts to get involved and join us to pass legislation in state governments nationwide that promotes accessibility and affordability of prostate cancer screenings. Questions? Contact Ali Manson (ali@zerocancer.org), Vice President, Government Relations and Advocacy.
Early detection continues to be the most effective means to saving lives from prostate cancer. Breaking down barriers to screening (especially for patients at high risk) is one of our top priorities at both the federal and state levels. We aim to eliminate out of pocket costs for patients being screened for prostate cancer, no matter where they live.Prostate cancer has remarkable similarity to other forms of cancer in terms of incidence, average age of new diagnoses, and mortality rates. But unlike other forms of disease, patients who get screened for prostate cancer often have to cover the costs of coinsurance, co-pays, deductibles, or denied coverage.
The Facts: Early Detection Saves Lives 99% of Patients Are able to survive prostate cancer if its detected early Barriers to Getting Screened Often come down to out-of-pocket costs such as coinsurance, co-pays, and deductibles. Black Men are 2X More Likely to Die Chiefly due to a lack of access to testing and quality care.
Early detection of prostate cancer saves lives. That is why I meet with my elected representatives to ensure that high-risk populations such as Black men can get tested early for prostate cancer, and with the fewest barriers possible. — Eddie Wright
PSA Screening for HIM ActOn the Federal level, that effort currently takes the form of the PSA Screening for HIM Act, which would protect high-risk individuals from cost sharing in the form of copays, co-insurance, and deductibles.
Early Detection Saves Lives Federal Legislation ZERO asks elected officials to support for simple, common-sense legislation that will eliminate the cost of screening for people who have high risk of developing prostate cancer. View the one-pager
ZERO Cost to Prostate Cancer Screening InitiativeAs the most common form of cancer in men, prostate cancer screening should be affordable and accessible. ZERO leads legislation that will make prostate cancer screening free and accessible to all men. Early screening is the best preventative measure against the disease, which often presents no symptoms.Barriers to Getting ScreenedCan include out-of-pocket costs, such as coinsurance, co-pays, and deductibles, as well as transportation, awareness, and other challenges.
State EffortsAt the state level, ZERO leads the charge to connect with legislatures and introduce legislation to eliminate cost-sharing for prostate cancer screening. Our bold goal is to make screening free in 25 states by 2030.
Making Testing Free: Early Wins Expand All New York In January 2019, New York became the first state in the country to pass a law that supports full insurance coverage of the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test, which helps determine prostate cancer risk. Maryland In early 2020, ZERO and local advocates in Maryland helped pass a bill at the Maryland State House that will remove prostate cancer screening cost-sharing for men ages 40-75 in the state. The law went into effect in January 2021. Read editorials from legislators and patients in support of this effort.With prostate cancer being the most diagnosed male-only cancer in the state, this legislation has the power to catch the disease early and save lives and prevent any financial barriers to care. Rhode Island In April 2021, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed legislation that would eliminate cost-sharing for prostate cancer screening. Under this new benefit, men in Rhode Island will not pay any out-of-pocket costs for prostate cancer screening received from an in-network provider beginning on January 1, 2022. Illinois On June 10, 2022, Illinois Governor Pritzker signed into law HB 5318. It was introduced by State Representative La Shawn K. Ford, a prostate cancer survivor and passed both chambers in late April. HB 5318 will save the lives of countless men in Illinois by eliminating cost sharing for prostate cancer screening and follow-up diagnostic testing, including imaging.
Getting involved in my state's effort to remove cost-sharing from prostate cancer screening was such an amazing opportunity. Not only did I help make an impact in the lives of men, but I became even more connected and active in my local prostate cancer community! — Judy Berman, Caregiver
Get involved: you can make a difference! Patient and caregiver stories make a difference! We need your voice to help improve access to testing without cost-sharing. By sharing your story, you’ll help:Provide context to strengthen screening and incidence dataGive personal narratives that demonstrate the need to remove financial barriers to screeningBe part of a passionate and powerful community of advocatesZERO’s state-by-state strategy to zero out costs for prostate cancer screening is now focused on California and Texas with additional states to come. Sign up for advocacy alerts to get involved and join us to pass legislation in state governments nationwide that promotes accessibility and affordability of prostate cancer screenings.
Questions? Contact Ali Manson (ali@zerocancer.org), Vice President, Government Relations and Advocacy.
