The Alabama House passed two bipartisan bills on Tuesday to ensure full coverage of prostate and breast cancer screenings for certain patients.
Senate Bill 19, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, would mandate that insurance providers cover the costs of prostate cancer screenings for high-risk men, without cost sharing requirements.
The bill defines high-risk patients over 50 years old, Black men, or men with a family member who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer or a related form of cancer. Screenings covered by the legislation include prostate-specific antigen blood tests for the early detection of prostate cancer and rectal examinations.
“Thank you, my colleague, for bringing this bill,” Representative Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, told Representative Jeremy Gray, D-Opelika, who has carried the House version of the bill.
“We have a lot of young men who are afraid to even think about [screening] because of cost. Anything that we can do to help our young people, our senior people—make their healthcare a little more efficient and effective—we ought to applaud that,” he added.
The House also voted to adopt an amendment, presented by Representative Jaundalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, to name SB19 in honor of Alabama businessman and advocate with the prostate cancer nonprofit, ZERO Prostate Cancer, David McElhaney, as well as author, journalist and AL.com columnist, Roy S. Johnson.
“In concert with Senator Livingston, there have been two stalwarts in this area of prostate cancer awareness here in the state of Alabama,” Givan said. “Every now and then, we get a chance to do some things together, Republicans and Democrats, red and blue, and so with this being said, we have agreed on an amendment to name this bill after two great leaders here.”
Johnson, who has authored op-eds in favor of the legislation, alongside columns reflecting on his experience being diagnosed with and receiving treatment for prostate cancer, told APR ahead of the House vote, that SB19 will benefit men across the state by reducing financial barriers to screenings.
“I think this is one of those matters, one of those issues that touches everyone. It’s hard to argue against it, particularly when it does have the support of the insurance industry. Blue Cross and Blue Shield have been supportive of this legislation,” Johnson said.
“Prostate cancer is one of the most treatable cancers,” he explained. “One in eight men will be diagnosed with it, one in six Black men, but the key is catching it early. And so, that begins with regular PSA tests, particularly for men over 50, traditionally. But recently been encouraged that men over 40 get the test, particularly if you are African American or if you had a direct relative with the disease.”
Johnson added that since his cancer is slow-growing and was detected early, his treatment has consisted of active surveillance of the disease, a method that involves closely monitoring the cancer through PSA tests in order to avoid side effects of immediate treatment methods such as surgery or radiation.
“Part of what my calling is, too, is to educate people about their various options,” he said. “Active surveillance was not something that I embraced. My wife and I said ‘hell no’ to that option early on. But as we learn more and began to trust in our prayers and trust in God and trust in our faith, we heard very clearly that this was the path to pursue.”
The columnist went on to express gratitude for the bill’s widespread support from state lawmakers, as well as readers’ response to his work on his prostate cancer journey and the legislation.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the response, positive response, prayers, encouragement,” he said. “It was more than I could have expected.”
“I particularly smiled when I received emails from readers who would say, ‘I disagree with you on everything, but on this, I got your back,’” he added.
Alongside ZERO Prostate Cancer, the legislation has received endorsements from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
ACS CAN Alabama Government Relations Director Jane Adams expressed thanks to the bill’s sponsors and Alabama lawmakers for making the legislation a major priority for 2026.
“We’re really appreciative that leadership has prioritized it and that Senator Livingston and Representative Gray prefiled it before session and, you know, that Senate insurance made it their first priority, their first committee hearing,” she said.
HB300, sponsored by Representative Frances Holk-Jones, R-Foley, alongside SB117, sponsored by Senator Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, would similarly eliminate co-pays for certain secondary screenings necessary to detect breast cancer.
Current Alabama law requires health insurers to cover mammography to screen for breast cancer in women 40 years old or older. Insurers subject to the federal Affordable Care Act must also cover mammogram screenings for women 40 years or older without requiring the beneficiary to share the cost.
However, when a mammogram reveals an abnormality in a patient’s breast or a patient is at a higher risk of breast cancer, additional imaging is required to complete early detection of the disease.
Holk-Jones, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last October, thanked representatives for their support and well-wishes on the House floor.
“I just want to tell everyone that every single communication was greatly appreciated,” she said. “Due to the talents of our medical providers, I am proud to report that I have been cancer-free since last December. So, thank you all very much.”
The representative received a standing ovation from members of the House.
According to ACS, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women, after skin cancer, and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths after lung cancer. The earlier the disease is detected, the better the chances for successful treatment.
The organization also reports that prostate cancer is similarly the second-leading cause of cancer deaths for men in the U.S. However, most men diagnosed with the disease survive with treatment.
“We want to encourage Alabamians to get cancer screening, to get mammograms, to get a prostate cancer screening. Those screenings have become more available, more easy to use, less invasive and we want all Alabamians to access those cancer screenings at the appropriate time,” Adams said, when asked to describe the significance of two bipartisan cancer screening bills progressing through the state house simultaneously.
Johnson also expressed support for the breast cancer screening legislation presented by Holk-Jones and Coleman-Madison.
“The fact that both of them are coming up at the same time, I think, gives our lawmakers a rare opportunity to do good for all,” he remarked.
“It’s certainly a rarity,” Johnson said of the bipartisan nature of the two bills. “Again, I think it’s a reminder that we have more things in common than not, and an opportunity to reprioritize how we look at each other, how we care for each other, how we pray for each other, and know that so many of the things that we’re fighting over politically are temporary and much less important than, you know, how we live our lives, our health, our faith and how we treat each other.”
HB300 will now be reviewed by the Senate Health Committee. If passed, the bill will take effect on January 1, 2027.
