Public Comments for: HB2097 - Health insurance; coverage requirements for prostate cancer screenings.
Our written testimony is attached. Please vote for HB 2097 to reduce the number of Virginia families who lose precious time to prostate cancer - and to ensure that every Virginian has access to the care they need to stay healthy. Thank you, and please follow up with me with any questions.
My name is Peter Moon PhD, VCU Professor Emeritus, 31 year Prostate Cancer survivor with PCa and 22 year support group leader of RVa Us Too Prostate Cancer Support Group/Zero Cancer (rvacancersupport.org), and I’m writing to testify in support of HB 2097 by Del. Austin.
My name is Ron Lanton and I am the Government Affairs Director for the American Association of Clinical Urologists Inc. (AACU). We are attaching our comments in support of HB2097.
Dear Members of the House Labor and Commerce Committee, I support HB2097, sponsored by Del Terry Austin, to eliminate PSA screening costs for High Risk men. In 2002, at the age of 55, my doctor had me take a PSA test. I had no idea what a PSA test was but was told it was 4.0 and I should find a urologist. Because I was able to pay for my copay, my prostate cancer was detected. I eventually entered the Watchful Waiting program at Johns Hopkins in 2003, and had my prostate removed in January 2006. I am, and have been cancer free ever since because I was able to obtain a PS A screening. Please support this important bill. Thank you, John Glass Ruckersville, VA