AUA urges Congress to pass prostate Ca legislation

The AUA has announced its support of H.R. 6389 (the Prostate Act), which, if passed, would require coordination and intensification of prostate cancer research by government departments.

The bill was introduced on Sept. 29 by the Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. A Senate version of the Prostate Act was introduced by Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT) and George Voinovich (R-OH).

In a statement, the AUA said it worked closely with lawmakers to develop this legislation, and recently honored Towns at an event held during the 2010 Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.’s 2010 Annual Legislative Conference.

The Prostate Act will help foster greater national integration and coordination on the many efforts to promote more effective prevention, diagnosis, treatment, public education, and health care delivery for this disease, the AUA said.

The bill includes the following provisions:

• the formation of an inter-agency Prostate Cancer Coordination and Education Task Force composed of agencies from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Defense and led by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• the coordination and intensification of prostate cancer research among the VA, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Health and Human Services
• establishment of a grant program to build upon existing knowledge gained from comparative effectiveness research, and recognize and address the racial and ethnic disparities in the incidence and mortality rates of prostate cancer
• establishment of 4-year telehealth pilot projects in a variety of geographic areas
• the development of a national education campaign intended to encourage men to seek prostate cancer screening when appropriate.

"The AUA is very pleased to offer its support of both the House and Senate versions of the Prostate Act," said AUA President Datta Wagle, MD. "This legislation is an important first step toward using government resources effectively to combat prostate cancer."