[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 84 (Monday, June 26, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF THE PROSTATE CANCER MEDICAID COVERAGE ACT OF 2006

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 26, 2006

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce a bill to allow treatment 
using Medicaid funds for men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer. 
This bill mirrors the measure that Congress enacted in 1999 to help 
low-income women who would otherwise not qualify for Medicaid, despite 
being diagnosed with breast cancer or cervical cancer. Congress found 
that women responded in large numbers to efforts by government and 
others to encourage early diagnosis using mammography after the Breast 
and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act was enacted in 1990. 
However, in 1999 Congress recognized that because the screening did not 
provide coverage of treatment for women above the poverty level, the 
screening legislation had the tragic but unintended consequence of 
informing these women of a serious disease that demanded immediate 
treatment but leaving them without the means to seek that treatment. 
Later, Congress amended Title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide 
medical assistance for the women screened and found to have breast or 
cervical cancer under a federally funded screening program.
  In today's bill, I have endeavored to provide the same relief for 
men. This bill allows men, earning up to 250 percent of the poverty 
level, who are diagnosed with prostate cancer through a Federal 
screening program for prostate cancer, to qualify for treatment using 
Medicaid funds. The program would target men who are low-income, 
uninsured or underinsured men who, nevertheless, do not qualify for 
Medicaid and do not have private insurance.
  Prostate cancer outranks breast cancer as the second most common 
occurring cancer in the U.S. and the second leading cause of cancer-
related deaths. However, diagnosing this cancer is often less 
expensive, and unlike breast cancer, often does not require immediate 
treatment. Prostate cancer treatment does not require invasive surgery 
in many instances. Many prostate cases can be diagnosed with a simple 
Prostate-Specific Antigen, PSA, test unlike the high technology 
mammography machines used to detect breast cancer. Many men are advised 
to wait and watch for the development of the disease before seeking 
treatment.
  However the rate of cancer deaths coupled with available treatment is 
strong evidence that many lives could be saved at considerably less 
expense if early detection and treatment were more available. Although 
race is a factor, every man over the age of 50 is at risk of developing 
prostate cancer and should be screened. Veterans that have been exposed 
to Agent Orange also have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. 
Many doctors recommend yearly screening for men over age 50, and some 
advise men who are at a higher risk for prostate cancer to begin 
screening at age 40 or 45. Many Black men are at the highest risk of 
prostate cancer--it tends to start at younger ages and grows faster 
than in men of other races. Currently, Medicare provides coverage for 
an annual PSA test for all men age 50 and older but men still do not 
fall within existing requirements to receive Medicaid.
  I urge my colleagues to join with me in establishing this program 
guaranteeing treatment for men diagnosed with prostate cancer. It will 
meet an immediate and pressing need in communities across the country, 
and across racial and class lines.

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