WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bill introduced in the House and Senate last week aims to improve future equitable access to new and innovative cancer screenings among Medicare beneficiaries in order to increase early detection of more cancers for more individuals. The Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act (House)/ Medicare MCED Screening Coverage Act (Senate) would allow Medicare to cover MCED tests, once approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and clinical benefit has been shown.
This bipartisan and bicameral legislation was the most supported health care bill in the 118th Congress with the broad support of 320 members of the House of Representatives and 65 members of the Senate.
The following is a statement from Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):
“The evidence overwhelmingly supports that detecting cancer earlier can be the difference between life and death. When cancer is detected at an earlier stage, it is often easier and less costly to treat, and patients are more likely to survive. We also know that the risk of developing cancer increases with age as do the odds of developing an invasive form of cancer. According to data recently released by the American Cancer Society, in 2025, more than 2 million people in America are expected to be diagnosed with cancer and over 1 million of those cases are expected to be in individuals over the age of 65. This legislation, for which ACS CAN has long advocated, creates a pathway to ensure timely Medicare coverage of new, innovative multi-cancer screening tests after FDA approval and clinical benefit has been shown. This legislation can greatly expand access to early detection.
“As science evolves, so should Medicare coverage of multi-cancer screening tests to ensure patients have access to the screening that the patient and their provider deem most appropriate for them. This bill, which is not a mandate, will allow Medicare to determine coverage of MCED tests. This could result in further reducing suffering and death from cancer for aging people.
“ACS CAN is grateful to Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Representatives Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and Terri Sewell (D-AL) for being lead sponsors on this bill. As we work to lower the burden of cancer for everyone, we urge Congress to immediately prioritize the passage of this bill.”
