DOVER — Governor Carney signed HS 1 of HB 302 Oct. 28 making Delaware the eighth state in the U.S. to enhance coverage of prostate cancer screenings for high-risk men.
The bill eliminates costs for certain patients to get these lifesaving screenings, thus reducing barriers and increasing access to care for men over 40 with certain risk factors.
It’s estimated that over 1,300 Delawareans will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024. Some are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer than others, including African American men and those who have a first-degree relative with a prostate cancer history.
Prostate cancer survival rates increase when detected early, highlighting the importance of access to screenings.
The law applies to all policies, contracts, or certificates issued, renewed, modified, altered, amended or reissued after Dec. 31, 2025.
“This is a great path forward for Delaware to be a nationwide leader in helping to reduce the cancer burden. All men at high-risk for prostate cancer as well as those who have made an informed decision with their doctor to get screened should have access to barrier-free screening without cost-sharing. I am proud to see this legislation make that possible,” said Lance Kilpatrick, Delaware Government Relations Director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).