Budget Amendment ID: FY2015-S4-864

EHS 864

Prostate Cancer Awareness

Mr. Welch, Ms. Chandler, Mr. Donnelly, Ms. Candaras and Mr. Brownsberger moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 4590-0925, moved that the bill be amended in section 2, in item 4590-0925, by inserting after the word “campaign” the following words:- “; and provided further that the said prostate cancer and awareness program shall be a state-wide educational and awareness program within the Department of Public Health to improve prostate cancer care and patient outcomes in Massachusetts men. The goal of this program is to improve education and increase awareness of the most current advances in prostate cancer prevention, early diagnosis and treatment so that men, their caregivers and doctors will be empowered to make more informed and shared decisions on screening and other health care options. And provided further this program shall focus on men at high risk of prostate cancer, including individuals with African American ancestry, family history of the disease, and increasing age. The Department of Public Health will establish, manage and oversee the following critical components of the program:

(1)Establishment of the Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Strategic Task Force consisting of the key stakeholders in healthcare research, education, delivery, advocacy and policy in order to develop and implement consensus-based statewide short-term and long-term plans for the advancement of patient care, including decreased mortality and morbidity and improved quality of life; and

(2)Establishment of a grant program to support educational symposia with leading medical authorities, with the goal of educating providers, patients and their caregivers and other key healthcare stakeholders on the current and emerging knowledge of state-of-the-art patient care and related clinical trials in prevention, diagnosis and treatment.  The educational symposia will be held in six major regions of the Commonwealth including Boston and integrated with state-wide community outreach to patients at high risk and a multi-media campaign for public awareness in collaboration with experts in communications, media and public relations. This funding will support an integrated program of Massachusetts-based not-for-profit organizations that have demonstrated experience and a proven track record in prostate cancer public awareness and education, with a focus on facilitating transfer of cutting-edge scientific advances from laboratories to clinics. Said program shall be coordinated by AdMeTech Foundation working in cooperation with the Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Coalition and Men of Color Health Awareness."