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Legislation

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Scroll down to learn about current and proposed national legislation such as the bill to create a National Office of Men's Health, the Manton bill, the PRIME act, the bill for expansion of Agent Orange benefits for Vietnam Vets, and the Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act and state statutes, bills, and proclamations related to prostate cancer survivorship.

Federal bills of interest to the prostate cancer advocacy community:

to create a national office of men's health
The Office on Women's Health (OWH) was established in 1991 within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. There is no Office of Men's Health (OMH). On average, men die almost 6 years younger than women and suffer higher mortality rates for the top causes of death. Click here to learn about efforts to create a national Office of Men's Health that would serve to coordinate fragmented men's health awareness, prevention, and research efforts now being conducted by federal and state government.

the "Manton Bill"
The breast and cervical cancer mortality and prevention act was passed in 1990. This act authorized CDC grants to states for screening of uninsured and underserved women. The breast and cervical cancer treatment act was passed in 2000. This act provides funding for treatment of cancers found in women screened under the breast and cervical cancer mortality and prevention act. The Thomas J. Manton bill seeks to amend this act to provide a prostate cancer screening and treatment program for underserved men. NC Rep Mike McIntyre is a co-sponsor of the bill. Click here to learn more about the bill.

Click here to view NC death rates for all 3 cancers (breast, cervical, and prostate).

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the "PRIME act"
Technology for diagnostic and treatment imaging for prostate cancer is a particular challenge for medical professionals that specialize in treating the disease. There is a bill to fund research to improve imaging technology. Click here to learn about this bill.

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to expand coverage of Veteran's benefits to all exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam war
Agent Orange exposure has been linked to the development of prostate cancer and a number of other diseases. Some Veterans currently qualify for benefits associated with this exposure. Currently, this does not extend to Veterans who served on waterways the waters offshore Vietnam where "fall out" from the use of agent orange may have occurred. The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) is working to increase awareness of a bill to ensure that all agent orange exposed Vietnam Veterans are eligible for benefits. Click here to learn about the bill.

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to expand Medicare benefits to include certain aspects of cancer survivorship
Integrated care and communication throughout and beyond diagnosis and treatment can be important to support long-term quality of life for cancer patients. Visit the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) to learn about the Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act (CCCIA).

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Click here for links to both our state lawmakers and federal representatives for the state of North Carolina.

State Level Prostate Cancer Related Statutes, Bills, and Proclamations:

Insurance Statutes
Every policy or contract of accident and health insurance, and every preferred provider benefit plan governed under G.S. 58-50-56, insurance certificate or subscriber contract under any hospital service plan or medical service plan governed Article 66 of this Chapter, and every preferred provider benefit plan under G.S. 58-50-56, and every health care plan written by a health maintenance organization and in force, issued, renewed, or amended on or after January 1, 1994 must provide coverage for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests or equivalent tests for the presence of prostate cancer. The same deductibles, coinsurance, and other limitations as apply to similar services covered under the policy, contract, or plan shall apply to coverage for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests or equivalent tests for the presence of prostate cancer when recommended by a physician. Click here to view all prostate cancer relevant NC state general insurance statutes.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Click here to view the proclamation by Gov. Michael L. Easley.

Prostate Cancer Awareness Special Plate
On August 30, 2007 SB 103, introduced by Senator Eddie Goodall and co-sponsored by Bob Atwater, Stan Bingham, James Forrester, David W. Hoyle, William R. Purcell, and John Snow was passed to create a special license plate for prostate cancer awareness.

As approved by our state legislators, the plate will look similiar to the breast cancer awareness plate, only with a blue ribbon and surrounded by the words "PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS."

The cost of the plate (as with all special interest plates) is $10 per year and all proceeds go to the NC Special Registration Plate Account (SRPA).

Be sure to tell others! 300 application must be received before the state will begin producing the plate. You can help by printing copies of the application and sharing them with urology and oncology practices in your area.

Click here to download the application as a PDF file.

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