Prostate Cancer Roundtable Commends SSA for Inclusion of Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer in Diagnoses Eligible for Compassionate Allowances Initiative

Washington, DC, January 23, 2014 --(PR.com)-- The membership of the Prostate Cancer Roundtable today thanked the Social Security Administration (SAA) and Acting Commissioner Carolyn W. Colvin, for their announcement that a diagnosis of hormone-refractory prostate cancer would be included in the updated list of more than 200 diagnoses making patients eligible for the SSA's Compassionate Allowances initiative.

The Compassionate Allowance initiative provides expedited review of applications for disability assistance from individuals diagnosed with specific medical conditions that are so disabling that they invariably meet SSA's requirements.

Launched in 2008 with a list of 50 diseases and conditions, the Compassionate Allowances program is aimed at identifying medical diagnoses that clearly meet the statutory standard for disability. When individuals with those diagnoses apply for disability assistance, they receive fast-track review so that they are notified of the final decision within days.

The Roundtable also thanks Congressman Elijah Cummings (D, MD) and his staff for their efforts in encouraging inclusion of advanced forms of prostate cancer on the SSA’s list of diagnoses eligible for the Compassionate Allowances program.

The Roundtable’s members plan to work closely with the SSA in upcoming weeks to gain detailed insight from the SSA regarding their definition of “Prostate cancer – hormone-refractory disease -- or with visceral metastases” (which is the precise diagnosis listed by SSA as being eligible for Compassionate Allowance).

About the Prostate Cancer Roundtable:

The Prostate Cancer Roundtable, representing America’s prostate cancer community, is a group of independent, patient-centric, not-for-profitorganizations that cooperate to foster the development of policies supporting high quality prostate cancer research, the prevention and early detection of clinically significant prostate cancer, the appropriate care and effective treatment of men with prostate cancer, and the appropriate education of all men at risk for this disease.

The following members of the Prostate Cancer Roundtable support this statement:

• Ed Randall’s Fans for the Cure (www.fans4thecure.org)
• Malecare Prostate Cancer Support (www.malecare.org)
• Men’s Health Network (www.menshealthnetwork.org)
• National Alliance of State Prostate Cancer Coalitions (www.naspcc.org)
• Prostate Cancer International (www.pcainternational.org)
• Prostate Conditions Education Council (www.prostateconditions.org)
• Prostate Health Education Network (www.prostatehealthed.org)
• The Prostate Net (www.prostatenet.org)
• Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network
(www.ustoo.org)
• Women Against Prostate Cancer (www.womenagainstprostatecancer.org)
• ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer (www.zerocancer.org)