HB1300, titled the “Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening for High-risk Insured Men Act” or the “PSA Screening for HIM Act,” would require group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual coverage to cover prostate cancer screenings without cost-sharing for certain high-risk men. The bill specifically targets men age 40 and over who are at elevated risk, including African-American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer, and it amends the preventive services coverage rules in section 2713 of the Public Health Service Act.
The bill’s findings emphasize the high incidence and mortality of prostate cancer, the importance of early detection, and the disproportionate impact on African-American men. It also states that early-stage prostate cancer has a much higher survival rate than late-stage disease and that screening barriers should be reduced for high-risk populations. The bill would take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
Impact
The bill would amend federal health insurance preventive-services requirements under the Public Health Service Act to add prostate cancer screening coverage for specified high-risk men without deductibles, copayments, or other cost-sharing. It would apply to group health plans and both group and individual health insurance issuers, and it defines family history broadly to include certain first-degree relatives with prostate cancer, related cancers, or known genetic alterations associated with increased risk. The bill also includes a clarification that plans may cover additional services beyond those required and does not prevent coverage of services not recommended by the USPSTF.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text, the measure is framed in strongly supportive terms around cancer prevention, early detection, and reducing disparities in outcomes for African-American men and men with family histories of prostate cancer. There is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials, so no formal opposition or amendment activity is reflected in the available context. The overall tone of the legislation is preventive and health-access oriented.
Contention
The main policy issue embedded in the bill is how broadly to mandate no-cost screening for prostate cancer and which populations should qualify as high risk. The bill expressly includes African-American men and men with family histories, which reflects an equity-focused approach but could prompt questions about eligibility definitions, screening age thresholds, and the scope of required preventive services. Another potentially notable point is the bill’s interaction with existing USPSTF-based preventive coverage rules, though the text attempts to preserve plan flexibility beyond the mandated minimum.