SCS/SB 144 - This act provides that, subject to appropriations, two Prostate Cancer Pilot Programs shall be established within the Department of Health and Senior Services. One program shall be in the St. Louis area and one in either Pemiscot, New Madrid, or Dunklin counties. Once appropriated, the program shall fund prostate cancer screening and treatment services. The department shall distribute grants to local health departments and federally qualified health centers. This act also requires the program to provide cancer screening, referral services, treatment, and outreach and education activities. The program is open to uninsured or economically challenged men who are older than 50 years of age and uninsured or economically challenged men between 35 and 50 years of age who are at high risk for prostate cancer. An uninsured man is defined as one for whom services provided by the program are not covered by private insurance, MO HealthNet, or Medicare, while an economically challenged man is one who has a gross income up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level. The department shall promulgate rules establishing guidelines regarding eligibility and for implementation of the program.
The department is required to report to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding the number of individuals screened and treated by the program and any cost savings as a result of early treatment of prostate cancer three years from the date on which the grants were first administered under the act. This act will expire six years from the effective date, unless reauthorized by the General Assembly.
This act is similar to HB 1065 (2009) and to HB 2441 (2008).
ADRIANE CROUSE