Better Grades For Prostate Health In Alabama

By: Associated Press | Alabama's13.com
Published: December 10, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Two years ago Alabama was one of five states to earn an "F" on a national prostate health ranking. At first, Birmingham urologist Thomas Moody shrugged it off as yet another disappointing Alabama statistic.

But then the president of Urology Centers of Alabama, the state's largest urology practice, felt compelled to act.

The ranking by the National Prostate Cancer Coalition was based on Alabama's prostate cancer death rates, screening rates, support for prostate health legislation and access to urologists.

Moody told his 16 partners they have a responsibility to do something about that dismal ranking. Their busy practice draws patients from across Alabama. The group agreed and a mission was launched.

Urology Centers held a few free cancer screenings in 2006, but the real work began this year when the practice got support for bill in the state Legislature requiring insurance firms to pay for prostate screenings.

The new law is largely symbolic, as most insurers already covered the test, but Moody says it got the issue of Alabama's poor prostate health in front of the legislators.

When the coalition's national rankings came out in June this year, Alabama's score went from failing to a C, the largest improvement of any state.

In September, the National Prostate Cancer Coalition gave Moody the group's annual leadership award for "almost single-handedly raising the state's score. Moody and his partners have screened almost 300 people this year in five free events across the state at the practice's expense.

The group also pledged to provide follow-up care to anybody who needs it, whether or not he has insurance.

Better Grades For Prostate Health In Alabama

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