[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 780 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 780

 To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage 
     of prostate cancer screening tests under the medicaid program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 1, 1995

 Mrs. Vucanovich introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
                       the Committee on Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage 
     of prostate cancer screening tests under the medicaid program.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Medicaid Prostate Cancer Screening 
Act of 1995''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer 
        death among men.
            (2) An estimated 244,000 new cases of prostate cancer in 
        the United States are expected during 1995.
            (3) An estimated 40,400 men are expected to die of prostate 
        cancer during 1995.
            (4) The incidence of prostate cancer increases with age and 
        over 80 percent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men 
        over age 65.
            (5) Early detection of prostate cancer is the best way to 
        control its growth and treat the tumors.
            (6) Survival rates for prostate cancer have steadily 
        improved from 50 percent to 80 percent in the past 30 years 
        largely due to increases in the early detection of the disease.
            (7) The American Cancer Society and other health 
        organizations recommend an annual digital rectal examination 
        for men starting at age 40 and an annual prostate-specific 
        antigen blood test starting at age 50.
            (8) Lower-income men are often unable to afford recommended 
        cancer screening.
            (9) Many lower-income men receive health care benefits 
        under the medicaid program.

SEC. 3. COVERAGE OF PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING TESTS UNDER MEDICAID.

    (a) In General.--Section 1905(a) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1396d(a)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (24);
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (25) as paragraph (26); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (24) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(25) prostate cancer screening tests (as defined in 
        subsection (t)); and''.
    (b) Definition.--Section 1905 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(t) The term `prostate cancer screening test' means a test that 
consists of a digital rectal examination or a prostate-specific antigen 
blood test (or both) provided for the purpose of early detection of 
prostate cancer to a man over 40 years of age who has not had such a 
test during the preceding year.''.
    (c) Making Coverage Mandatory.--Section 1902(a)(10)(A) of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)) is amended by striking ``(17) and (21)'' 
and inserting ``(17), (21) and (25)''.
    (d) 100 Percent Federal Match for Tests.--Section 1905(b) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
``Notwithstanding the first sentence of this subsection, the Federal 
medical assistance percentage shall be 100 percent with respect to 
amounts expended for medical assistance consisting of prostate cancer 
screening tests (as defined in subsection (t)).''.
    (e) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 1902(a)(10)(C)(iv) (42 
U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(C)(iv)) is amended--
            (A) by striking ``(5) and (17)'' and inserting ``(5), (17), 
        and (25)''; and
            (B) by striking ``through (21)'' and inserting ``through 
        (25)''.
    (2) Section 1902(j) (42 U.S.C. 1396a(j)) is amended by striking 
``through (22)'' and inserting ``through (26)''.
    (f) Effective Date.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
amendments made by this section shall apply to prostate cancer 
screening tests performed on or after January 1, 1996, without regard 
to whether or not final regulations to carry out such amendments have 
been promulgated by such date.
    (2) In the case of a State plan for medical assistance under title 
XIX of the Social Security Act which the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services determines requires State legislation (other than legislation 
appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the additional 
requirement imposed by the amendments made by this section, the State 
plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements 
of such title solely on the basis of its failure to meet this 
additional requirement before the first day of the first calendar 
quarter beginning after the close of the first regular session of the 
State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. For purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of a State that 
has a 2-year legislative session, each year of such session shall be 
deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.
                                 <all>