Power. Progress. Prevention.
The Foundation’s Advocacy Newsletter
April 14, 2017
USPSTF releases new draft recommendations on PSA testing for prostate cancer
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) this week released new draft recommendations on prostate cancer screening with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which measures the level of PSA in a man’s blood.
The task force upgraded its recommendation to a “C” rating for men ages 55 to 69 and now says each man should discuss the potential benefits and harms of screening with his doctor. The previous “D” rating labeled the PSA test as doing “more harm than good,” and strongly discouraged physicians from using the test for men at risk for the disease.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation® applauds USPSTF for encouraging shared decision-making between men and their doctors. We recommend men start talking with their health care professionals about the pros and cons of getting tested at age 50. If you are at an increased risk for prostate cancer, start the discussion sooner.
Health care debate could be back sooner than we thought
Reports indicate Congress may take another shot at overhauling health care when it returns from April recess. Meanwhile, President Trump is making health care a “strategic imperative” to be prioritized even before any tax reform bill.
House Speaker Paul Ryan withdrew the American Health Care Act from consideration last month after Republicans failed to secure the necessary votes. The Prevent Cancer Foundation® continues to follow the very latest in this debate, as potential changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) pose a risk to the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which could be devastating to cancer prevention, screening and early detection.
Changes to the ACA could also put an end to essential health benefits and could cause substantial changes to Medicaid. Those at greatest risk of losing their coverage are the ones who need it the most; low-income individuals and Americans ages 50 or older, who are most in need of regular screenings.
For the latest updates, visit our advocacy site here.
Bipartisan bill aims to fill need for doctors in underserved areas
Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) reintroduced a bill to expand the number of physicians able to participate in the Conrad 30 program, which allows foreign physicians to stay in the United States after completing their residencies.
The program allows 30 international physicians in each state to extend their J-1 visas if they work for three years in a medically underserved area. Afterward they can apply for immigrant visas or permanent residences.
The new bill extends the program (which is set to expire at the end of April) through 2021, increases the number of physicians able to participate and allows the physicians’ spouses to work in the U.S. This is great news for rural areas where there are fewer physicians to care for medically underserved populations.
April newsletter
The April edition of the Cancer PreventionWorks newsletter is here! Read the latest news in the world of cancer prevention and early detection including the following articles and more:
- Think About the Link®: We’re announcing Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur and singer-songwriter Alejandro Escovedo as national spokespeople for our Think About the Link® campaign. Read their stories today!
- Research: Dr. Karen Sfanos received her first-ever grant from the Prevent Cancer Foundation® in 2008. In this issue, she updates us on her current work to prevent prostate cancer development and how the Prevent Cancer Foundation® was instrumental to her lab’s success.
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations: The FDA is now regulating all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, cigars and hookah. Learn more about the timeline manufacturers and retailers are working with to meet these new regulations.
Advocacy call
Mark your calendars for our next advocacy call on Thursday, April 27, 2017, at 9 p.m. ET.
Dial-in: (641) 552-9402
Pin: 944319
