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Congress·In Committee

Bipartisan Senate Bill Proposes Medicare Coverage for New Blood Tests That Detect Multiple Cancers Early

Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act

Also known as: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act

about 1 year ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

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Senate
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Key Points

  • A bipartisan group of Senators introduced a bill to let Medicare cover new blood tests that can detect many types of cancer at the same time. These tests look for signs of cancer in a person's DNA from a single blood draw, rather than testing for just one cancer at a time.
  • To be covered, the tests must be approved by the FDA and the government must decide they are a helpful way to find illness early. The goal is to catch cancer when it is much easier and cheaper to treat, which could save many lives.
  • The new coverage would begin on January 1, 2028. The bill includes specific age rules that limit who can get the test at first, with the eligibility age increasing by one year every year to slowly expand who is covered.
  • Medicare would pay a set price for these tests, similar to what it currently pays for some advanced colon cancer screenings. This price would be locked in until 2031, when the government could choose to adjust the amount it pays based on market costs.
  • This new test is meant to be an extra tool for doctors. Getting this blood test would not replace or stop Medicare from paying for other important screenings people already receive, such as mammograms or colonoscopies.
Healthcare

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Jan 30, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Jan 30, 2025

Introduced in Senate

Related News

4 articles
AJMC·20 days ago

PBM Reforms, Restoration of Science Cuts Seen in $1.2T Spending Deal for 2026

The legislative package folded in a bill that calls on Medicare to fund multicancer early detection (MCED) testing starting in 2028. This law aligns our health care system with the pace of scientific innovation and brings us one step closer to a future where more cancers are found earlier.

C+
Alabama Political Reporter·6 months ago

Rep. Sewell's cancer screening bill advances unanimously in House committee

HR842, the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act, passed the House Ways and Means Committee 43-0. The bill creates a pathway for Medicare to cover emerging diagnostic tools, once FDA-approved, which can screen for up to 40 cancers via blood test.

CL+
ThinkAdvisor·about 1 month ago

House Votes 341-88 for 'Minibus' Spending Package

The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2026 includes Medicare provisions that lay the groundwork for adding coverage for blood tests that can detect many different forms of cancer at the same time. The bill passed the House with broad bipartisan support and now heads to the Senate.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act

Bill NumberS 339
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(68)
D: 35R: 32I: 1

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.