Health care needs of males, and the prostate cancer community, are not adequately addressed.

http://www.menshealthnetwork.org/
July 17, 2009
Letter addressed to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the following committees:
U.S. Senate: U.S. House of Representatives:

The undersigned organizations commend Congress and the Administration for seeking ways
to extend health benefits to all Americans, and to make prevention the cornerstone of that
effort. However, we are concerned that the health care needs of males, and the prostate
cancer community, are not adequately addressed in the legislation currently being
considered. We are also concerned that these bills appear to preempt state benefit laws that
now require private insurers to provide a number of critical services, including tests for
prostate cancer, the number one cancer in men.
Men’s health and well-being has a crucial financial and social impact within American families
and communities. This impact is highlighted by an Administration on Aging study which
found that more than half the elderly widows living in poverty were not poor before the death
of their husbands.1 We also understand that health disparities exist and that Healthy People
2010 made one of its core issues the elimination of gender disparities.
Across all racial and ethnic categories, American men live less healthy lives and die younger
than American women. Engaging men in health care has enormous benefits for women,
children, and society.
Specifically, we encourage language within the final health reform legislation that will address
these concerns:
• Current state mandates on health insurance coverage must be honored. The
Essential Benefits Package as presently written (in the House bill) will offer only those
preventive services actively recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force
(USPSTF). However, the USPSTF does not recommend many services now required
by many different states. As just one example, at least 36 states require private
insurers to cover testing for prostate cancer. The 2006 Census estimates found over
35 million men between the ages of 40 and 64 in those 36 states. Those 35 million
men now have coverage for prostate cancer testing if they have health insurance.
They will not be covered under the Essential Benefits Package unless state mandates
are honored, and would therefore lose their right to understand their potential for risk
of the most prevalent form of cancer in men
• The Senate and House bills each establish means whereby government will determine
how best to proceed with prevention and wellness activities in both the private and
public sectors. In making these determinations, advice will be sought by the heads of
various agencies, including the Office on Women’s Health.
This highlights the need for an Office on Men’s Health to advise, recommend and
direct wellness and prevention efforts for men and boys.