119-S-297 Journalist Public Summary
119 · S 297 PSA Screening for HIM Act
A bipartisan Senate bill would require most health plans to cover PSA-based prostate cancer screening and related evidence‑based care at no out‑of‑pocket cost for high‑risk men age 40+, by adding this benefit to the Affordable Care Act’s preventive‑services rule; it’s supported by major cancer groups, some clinicians note overdiagnosis risks, and insurers often warn new mandates can raise premiums; as of March 20, 2026, it remains in the Senate HELP Committee with a House companion in Energy & Commerce. (congress.gov)
Public Summary: PSA Screening for HIM Act (S. 297)
Headline Summary: Require most health plans to cover prostate cancer PSA screening and related evidence‑based services with no copays for high‑risk men 40 and older. (congress.gov)
What It Does: The bill amends Section 2713 of the Public Health Service Act (the ACA’s preventive‑services rule) so that, for high‑risk men age 40+, PSA screening and other evidence‑based prostate‑cancer preventive care must be covered without cost‑sharing. It defines high risk to include African‑American men and men with a qualifying family history or genetic risk, and it lets plans cover more than the minimum required. If enacted, it would apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. (congress.gov)
- American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) — argues the bill removes financial barriers that keep high‑risk men from testing. (fightcancer.org)
- Oncology Nursing Society — endorsed the concept, citing that prostate cancer often lacks symptoms until advanced stages. (ons.org)
- Cancer Support Community — mobilizing constituents to urge passage to ensure no‑cost screening for high‑risk individuals. (cancersupportcommunity.org)
- Sponsors: Sens. John Boozman (R‑AR) and Cory Booker (D‑NJ) highlight bipartisan support and focus on at‑risk populations. (congress.gov)
- Insurance and employer groups often caution that adding mandated benefits can raise premiums or shift costs to wages; analyses of mandated‑benefit expansions have found premium impacts. (old.phc4.org)
- Some clinicians and guideline experts note PSA screening’s benefits and harms are closely balanced for many men, and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has not issued a separate recommendation specifically for African‑American men, citing evidence gaps. (uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org)
What’s Next: As of March 20, 2026, Congress.gov shows S. 297 is still in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee after its January 29, 2025 referral; the House companion (H.R. 1300) has been in the Energy & Commerce Committee since February 13, 2025. Next steps would be a committee markup and floor votes in each chamber. (congress.gov)
Discussion