HARRISBURG – Insurance companies would be required to provide coverage for prostate cancer screenings under legislation introduced by Lehigh County Rep. Jeanne McNeill. According to data from the American Cancer Society, one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. The illness can also lay dormant for many years without going detected. Screenings can help find the cancer at an early stage. Under McNeill’s bill, insurers would be required to provide access to prostate-specific antigen blood tests and digital rectal exams annually to those identified as being at average or high risk of prostate cancer. Screenings would be administered under guidelines by the American Cancer Society. House Bill 2842 has been referred to the House Insurance Committee.
REP. JEANNE MCNEILL