East Idaho Times

U.S. Senate Finance Committee members have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at ensuring Medicare patients have access to advanced cancer detection technologies. The Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act has been reintroduced by Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), member Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), and member Tim Scott (R-South Carolina). A similar bill, H.R. 842, has been presented in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The legislation seeks to provide a Medicare coverage pathway for cutting-edge tests that can detect multiple types of cancer before symptoms appear. Senator Crapo emphasized the importance of early detection in improving treatment outcomes and survival rates, stating, "By providing a Medicare coverage pathway for multi-cancer early detection screening tests, this bipartisan bill would ensure seniors can receive lifesaving preventive care."

Senator Bennet shared his personal experience with early cancer detection, highlighting its potential to save lives by giving Medicare beneficiaries access to breakthrough screening technologies. "This bipartisan legislation will help save lives by ensuring Medicare beneficiaries across the country have access to the latest, breakthrough screening technologies," he said.

Senator Scott expressed support for expanding Medicare coverage for these tests as a means of saving more lives through early intervention: "It should go without question that if we have the opportunity to implement more life-saving technology for diseases like cancer, we should do it."

"The first step to beating cancer is by detecting it sooner than later," added Senator Wyden. He noted that the bill would allow seniors on Medicare access to preventive screenings that could offer a broader range of treatment options when cancers are detected early.

The MCED Act proposes establishing a coverage pathway under Medicare for FDA-approved MCED tests capable of screening dozens of cancer types lacking effective screening options currently. It authorizes CMS to provide Medicare coverage for these FDA-approved tests and ensures new diagnostic technologies supplement existing screenings without affecting current coverage and cost-sharing.

The initiative has garnered support from leading healthcare organizations across the United States.