The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1191, aims to establish a pancreatic cancer screening and treatment referral program within the Department of Public Health, effective October 1, 2025. The program is designed to promote screening, detection, and treatment of pancreatic cancer, particularly among unserved or underserved populations, which include individuals at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, those without health coverage for screening services, and individuals of appropriate age for screening. The Commissioner of Public Health is tasked with implementing the program by January 1, 2026, and it will prioritize outreach to minority communities, public education on the benefits of early detection, and provide counseling and referral services for treatment.

The program will encompass several key components, including a public education initiative to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer screening services, the establishment of a system for tracking patients who undergo screening, and the provision of referral services by registered healthcare providers. Additionally, it will include professional education programs focused on the importance of early detection and compliance with quality assurance requirements for participating providers. The bill introduces new legal language to create this program while deleting any previous references that may conflict with its establishment.