THIRD ANNUAL PROSTATE CANCER REPORT CARDS ISSUED NATIONWIDE

National Prostate Cancer Coalition Announces Which States Make the Grade

(Washington, DC) -- Many states need a bit more schooling when it comes to prostate cancer screening and legislation, according to the 2008 Prostate Cancer Report Card, issued today by the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC). The report assesses each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, and assigns a grade based on critical areas like mortality and screening rates, state insurance mandates and support for prostate cancer-related legislation.

“Wisconsin received a failing grade for the third year in a row. Idaho, Kentucky, Mississippi, Utah and Vermont weren’t far behind, each receiving a D-. These results highlight the fact that policymakers across the country need to make prostate cancer a priority,” said NPCC CEO Skip Lockwood. “More than 186,000 men will be diagnosed with the disease this year, but with greater access to yearly screenings, early detection can save lives.”

In order to determine each state’s commitment to the fight against prostate cancer, NPCC evaluated each state in four areas: current mortality rates, screening statistics, state insurance mandates and support for prostate cancer-related legislation. Mortality and screening statistics came from the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention and Early Detection: Cancer Facts and Figures 2008. These statistics determined the percentage of men screened for prostate cancer and the mortality rates (per 100,000 men) from prostate cancer in a given state. Each state was then ranked according to its percentage and received a grade according to its rank. The top 10 states received an “A” and the bottom 10 states received an “F.”

Each state was assessed based on their support of the following prostate cancer-related legislation:

• Thomas J. Manton Prostate Cancer Early Detection and Treatment Act of 2007, which would create a prostate cancer screening and treatment program for low to moderate income men;
• Department of Defense Cancer Research Program “Dear Colleague” letter from Members of Congress to appropriators asking for increased funding for prostate cancer research in the Defense Appropriations bill;
• A bill to create an ‘Office of Men’s Health’ at the Department of Health and Human Services
• A bill to increase funding and support for better diagnostic and screening tools focusing on prostate imaging technology;
• Senate and House resolution recognizing September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Each Representative and Senator was graded individually and then the average of the entire delegation determined each state’s final grade. If the state has a law guaranteeing insurance coverage for prostate screening, it received an “A.” States that introduced screening bills at the state level in the past year received a “C.” States without an insurance coverage mandate for prostate cancer screening received an “F.”

Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island scored at the head of the class with the highest grades this year, each earning a B. Several states saw an improvement from last year’s report, including South Dakota and Wyoming who nearly failed last year, but brought their grades up to a C+ and a C, respectively, in 2008. These positive changes can be attributed to higher screening rates in each state.

Below is a complete listing of how each state faired this year compared to last year. A report card for each state is available to view and download at www.fightprostatecancer.org/2008ReportCards.

State	2007 Final Grade	2008 Final Grade		State	2007 Final Grade	2008 Final Grade
Alabama	C	C-		Montana	D	D+
Alaska	D+	C-		Nebraska	D+	C-
Arizona	C-	C+		Nevada	D	C
Arkansas	F	D		New Hampshire	D	D+
California	B+	C		New Jersey	A-	B
Colorado	C	B-		New Mexico	F	D
Connecticut	A	B		New York	B	B
Delaware	B	B-		North Carolina	C	C
DC	D+	C+		North Dakota	D	D+
Florida	B	B-		Ohio	D+	C-
Georgia	B-	C		Oklahoma	C	C
Hawaii	B-	C		Oregon	C-	C
Idaho	D	D-		Pennsylvania	C	D
Illinois	C-	C-		Rhode Island	A-	B
Indiana	C-	C-		South Carolina	D	C-
Iowa	B+	D+		South Dakota	D	C+
Kansas	B-	B-		Tennessee	C	D+
Kentucky	F	D-		Texas	C	B-
Louisiana	C	C-		Utah	C	D-
Maine	B-	C		Vermont	D+	D-
Maryland	C+	B-		Virginia	C-	C-
Massachusetts	C	C+		Washington	C-	C-
Michigan	C	C		West Virginia	B-	C
Minnesota	C	C-		Wisconsin	F	F
Mississippi	F	D-		Wyoming	D	C
Missouri	C-	C+

About the National Prostate Cancer Coalition
The National Prostate Cancer Coalition (www.fightprostatecancer.org) sets the standard for rapidly reducing the burden of prostate cancer on American men and their families through awareness, outreach, and advocacy.

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