Support for a new rule clarifying treatment options for prostate cancer patients received a boost Nov. 30 when noted urologist and cancer survivor Dr. John Lynch testified before Congress.
Lynch, who spoke during a Nov. 30 hearing before the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health titled “Examining the United States Preventive Services Task Force,” said four recommendations under the USPSTF Transparency and Accountability Act would help patients and providers by including input from specialists.
“The stakes are high,” Lynch said of the proposed changes to the 2012 recommendations. “Patients did not know where to turn to determine what was best for their individual needs … the long-term impacts of guidance weren’t always clear.”
House bill H.R. 1151, introduced by Reps. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bobby Rush (D-IL), would require input from treating physicians and the addition of an accountability and transparency process. In addition, it provides a mechanism for stakeholder involvement and a means of reviewing previous recommendations.
The American Urological Association is backing the proposed changes, in part because the 2012 guidelines run contrary to the latest advice on prostate cancer screening from the American Cancer Society and others.
Lynch stressed the importance of having input from treating physicians included in the task force’s recommendations.
"The USPSTF will (then) ensure appropriate interpretation of currently available literature, and can benefit from added expert input into diagnosis and treatment of a disease or condition, as well as ensure the appropriateness and relevance of recommendations in the clinical setting," he said.
Lynch’s entire testimony is available online.
