Rock Island Today

After his own experience with prostate cancer, state Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Woodhull) is pushing legislation that would require health insurers to include certain cancer screenings without imposing a copay.

“Four years ago, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer,” state Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Woodhull) said on the House floor. “This past Dec. 2, I had surgery to remove my prostate; I would not have known my medical condition if it had not been for the (prostate-specific antigen) PSA testing by the medical field.”

Swanson encouraged his male colleagues to get checked for prostate cancer.

"Men in this chamber watch your prostate and your PSA score," Swanson said. "I know there's other members in here who've had the issue too, but it is vital that we continue to monitor our health, especially in that prostate area." 

House Bill 5318 has been referred to the Senate for assignment after a first reading, which took place on March 4. The bill requires that starting Jan. 1, 2024, health insurers provide coverage – without imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment – for specified methods of cancer testing.

Screening criteria call for men to have an exam for prostate cancer at 50, unless they have one or more family members who have had prostate cancer, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Individuals who have high-risk factors, like race or men whose fathers, sons, or brothers were diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 65 should begin testing at 45. 

Still, those who have multiple family members with a history of prostate cancer may begin testing at 40.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported of every 100 American men, 13 of them will get prostate cancer, and approximately 2 to 3 men will die from it.

According to the American Cancer Society, there could be as many as 10,520 new cases of prostate cancer in 2022 and 1,160 deaths.