Cardiovascular Disease Early Detection and Prevention Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill requires private health insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid to cover two advanced blood tests for heart disease risk, specifically for Lipoprotein(a) and Apolipoprotein B levels, without any out-of-pocket costs to patients.
• The free testing is targeted at people with specific risk factors, including family history of early heart disease, prior heart attacks or strokes, high LDL cholesterol, diabetes, or obesity. Standard cholesterol panels often miss these important markers.
• About 1 in 5 Americans have elevated Lp(a) levels, and research shows that Apolipoprotein B predicts heart risk better than standard LDL cholesterol alone. Heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S.
• The bill highlights the urgency of early detection by noting that nearly half of heart attack survivors die within five years without proper risk management.
• Changes to private insurance plans take effect for plan years beginning 180 days after enactment, while Medicare and Medicaid coverage begins 180 days after the law is signed.