WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network was joined by 51 other organizations in a letter asking Congress to swiftly pass the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act. The legislation would ensure that Medicare enrollees have access to MCED tests once the tests have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and clinical benefit has been shown. The letter reads in part:
“On behalf of the undersigned leading national advocacy organizations who want to eliminate pain and suffering from cancer we applaud you for sponsoring and prioritizing the passage of the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act (HR 2407), which will provide the Medicare program the authority to cover multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests. In order for this legislation to become a reality for millions of Medicare enrollees, we urge you to advance this legislation through the respective Committee processes so that it can swiftly move to the House floor for passage.
This legislation has the potential to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Medicare enrollees and their families. The risk of developing cancer increases with age as does the probability of developing an invasive form of cancer. In 2024, more than 2 million Americans are expected to be diagnosed with cancer and over 1 million of those cases are expected to be diagnosed in individuals over the age of 65.”
The letter also speaks to the legislation’s broad support citing that more than 270 members of the House of Representatives from across the political spectrum have signed on as cosponsors. This includes more than 80% of members of the Ways and Means Committee and over 70% of members of the Energy and Commerce Committee. In addition to congressional support, more than 520 organizations from across the country, in every state, have signed on to one or more formal letters of support.
Read the full letter here.
The following is a list of groups that signed the letter: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Alliance for Aging Research, Alliance for Patient Access, Alliance for Women's Health and Prevention, American Association for Cancer Research, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American Liver Foundation, Association of American Cancer Institutes, Association of Cancer Care Centers, Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer, California Life Sciences, Cancer Support Community, Caregiver Action Network, Cheeky Charity, Children’s Cancer Cause, Colon Cancer Coalition | Get Your Rear in Gear, Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses, Colorectal Cancer Alliance, Community Liver Alliance, Fight Colorectal Cancer, Friends of Cancer Research, GI Cancers Alliance, Global Liver Institute, GO2 for Lung Cancer, HealthyWomen, HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, International Association of Fire Fighters, KidneyCAN, Man Up to Cancer, Men's Health Network, Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, National Alliance of State Prostate Cancer Coalitions, National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs, National Cancer Registrars Association, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, National Consumers League, National Grange, National Minority Quality Forum, One Cancer Place, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, Paltown Development Foundation (Colontown.org), Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, Pennsylvania Prostate Cancer Coalition, Prostate Cancer Foundation, RetireSafe, Susan G. Komen, Triage Cancer, Washington Colon Cancer Stars, and ZERO Prostate Cancer.