A recent article in N.C. Health News highlighted a proposed legislative effort to expand access to early prostate cancer screening in North Carolina. The article included numerous quotes from an internationally recognized UNC Urology expert, and references to several UNC Urology programs that are focused on men’s health.
House Bill 128, introduced in February 2025, proposes $4 million in funding to provide free or low-cost prostate cancer screenings and follow-up care for uninsured or underinsured men across the state.
Providing expert insights into the importance of early detection was Dr. Matthew Nielsen, Chair and Professor of Urology and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Member. Dr. Nielsen discussed the transformative role of the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test in detecting prostate cancer earlier and improving survival rates. He also addressed historical concerns over overdiagnosis and overtreatment and emphasized the current use of active surveillance to mitigate unnecessary interventions while still identifying life-threatening disease.
The article also drew on data and insights from the UNC Men’s Health Program, a vital initiative within the Department of Urology that focuses on improving health outcomes for all men throughout North Carolina. The program’s resources were cited in highlighting many aspects of the state’s prostate cancer burden, as North Carolina ranks among the highest in the country for new prostate cancer diagnoses.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in North Carolina men, according to the UNC Men’s Health Program. As Dr. Nielsen explained in the article, “The single greatest opportunity to address issues related to prostate cancer is better access to the PSA test.”
House Bill 128, modeled after the state’s existing Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program, would lower financial barriers by making screenings accessible to eligible men, those aged 50 to 70 without family history or age 40+ with a family history of the disease, whose household income is below roughly $37,600. The bill has bipartisan sponsorship and is awaiting discussion in legislative committees.
While the broader policy implications of the bill will unfold in the months ahead, the inclusion of UNC Urology’s clinical and research leadership in this public dialogue reinforces the department’s ongoing commitment to reducing health disparities, supporting early detection, and improving outcomes for men across the state of North Carolina.