Effective April 1, 2023, Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer is covered as a preventive screening for members between age 50 and 70, every other year.
Early detection may be an important tool in getting appropriate and timely treatment for this common type of cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. About 6 cases in 10 are diagnosed in men who are 65 and older. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer.
The PSA test is a blood test that measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue in the prostate, a small gland that sits below the bladder in males.
Prostate cancer can cause elevated levels of PSA. However, many noncancerous conditions also can increase the PSA level. The PSA test can detect high levels of PSA in the blood but doesn't provide precise diagnostic information about the condition of the prostate and additional testing may be needed, such as a prostate biopsy.
Talk to your doctor about what preventive care they recommend.
For more information about PEBTF/REHP covered preventive screenings see the Summary Plan Description or the REHP Benefits Handbook, which may be found on this website.
Source: AmericanCancer.org, MayoClinic.org
