Multi-Cancer Screening Tests Can Catch Cancer Early
Earlier screening for cancer is important because when detected at later stages, treatments are more limited, and outcomes are generally poorer. Medicare enrollees should have access to multi-cancer screening tests when the benefit is clinically shown. Multi-cancer early detection tests are innovative tests that have the potential to detect multiple cancers through the use of a single test. Several private and academic entities are currently developing multi-cancer early detection blood-based tests. Published data indicate that some of these tests can screen for many different types of cancers at the same time, including some rare cancers.
Congressional Action
Because the risk of cancer increases with age, Medicare beneficiaries are especially vulnerable. Legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate that would allow Medicare to cover multi-cancer early detection tests. The legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) and in the House by Representatives Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and Terri Sewell (D-AL).
On Thursday, June 27, 2024, the Ways and Means Committee reported a revised version HR 2407 out of committee by a unanimous vote of 38-0. The attached chart compares the legislative language as introduced in the Senate to the language that was ultimately reported out of the Ways and Means Committee.
