State would run urban and rural prostate cancer programs for eligible men

The Department of Health and Senior Services would establish two prostate cancer programs, one in an urban area and one in a rural area. The programs would fund screening and treatment services and provide education to men living in Missouri. The department must secure a cooperative agreement with a nonprofit entity to fund the programs.

The programs may provide prostate cancer screening, referrals, treatment after diagnosis, support groups, and outreach and education. The programs would be open to uninsured or economically challenged men aged 50 or older. Men aged 35 to under 50 must also be at high risk for prostate cancer and qualify on a physician's advice or at their own request. The programs may offer these services; the text does not require them to provide every service.

The department would distribute grants to local health departments and federally qualified health centers when money is appropriated. The grants would support administration of the programs by local health departments and federally qualified health centers. The department must distribute the grants upon an appropriation.

The department would report program screening and treatment numbers, demographic information, and possible cost savings to the governor and legislature. The report would include racial and ethnic information about people screened and treated through the programs. The department would report cost savings only to the extent it can determine them. The report is due three years from the date the first grants are administered.