04/11/2000 01:55 PM Senate L&C

                 HB 416-PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN MACKIE announced HB 416 to be up for consideration.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. MELINDA  HOFSTAD, aide to Representative  Bill Hudson,  informed                                                            
Committee members  that Representative  Hudson asked the  House HESS                                                            
Committee to introduce  this legislation at the request of a 47 year                                                            
old constituent  who is  a four-year survivor  of advanced  prostate                                                            
cancer.  HB 416  lowers the age for required insurance  coverage for                                                            
an annual prostate  cancer screening  from 50 to 40 for the  general                                                            
male  population.    In the  case  of  high  risk  individuals,  the                                                            
screening age  is lowered from the  present age of 40 to  35.  "High                                                            
risk"  is defined  in this  legislation to  include  men who have  a                                                            
family history  of prostate cancer and African-Americans  who are 32                                                            
times more likely  to contract the disease.  Prostate  cancer in men                                                            
under age 65 tends to be  more aggressive in nature and, by lowering                                                            
the ages, earlier  screening will provide earlier  treatment, saving                                                            
lives  and suffering.    HB 416  passed  the House  unanimously  and                                                            
insurance  company  representatives   who  have  testified  have  no                                                            
objections to it.                                                                                                               
SENATOR DONLEY  moved to pass HB 416 from committee  with individual                                                            
recommendations.   There were no objections  and it was so  ordered.