Congressman Dan Goldman Pushes to Expand Medicare to Cover Life-Saving Cancer Screenings
Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screenings Hold Potential to Catch Cancer Earlier Than Ever Before
Read the Bill Here
Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07), Congresswoman Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), and Congressman Raul Ruiz (CA-25) in introducing the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act.
This bipartisan legislation, named after Congresswoman Sewell’s mother who passed away in 2021 from pancreatic cancer, would create a pathway for Medicare to cover emerging blood-based cancer screenings, which can detect cancer at earlier rates than ever before.
“New early cancer detection technology has life-saving potential for the two million Americans diagnosed with cancer every year,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “I know the pain of losing a loved one to cancer before their time. I also know that the earlier it’s detected, the easier it is to beat – which is why it’s so important that we expand Medicare coverage and maximize accessibility for as many Americans as possible.”
Currently, just 14 percent of cancers are detected via screenings. MCED tools complement existing medical technologies and have the potential to dramatically accelerate the rates at which our nation can detect cancer early. This legislation would expand Medicare to cover MCED’s once they are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Specifically, the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act would:
Create the authority for CMS to cover blood-based MCED tests and future test methods once approved by the FDA and shown to have clinical benefit.
Maintain CMS’ authority to use an evidence-based process to determine coverage parameters for these new tests.
Clarify that (1) these new tools will complement, not replace, existing screenings and coverage and (2) cost sharing will not be impacted.
Congressman Goldman is committed to ensuring Medicare and Medicaid provide comprehensive health care to those who need them.
In May 2024, Congressman Goldman introduced the ‘Michelle Alyssa Go Act,’ which would expand access to psychiatric care by increasing the number of federal Medicaid-eligible in-patient psychiatric beds for individuals seeking treatment for mental health and substance use disorders. The legislation would additionally ensure the facilities ordering these beds meet nationally recognized, evidence-based standards of care.
Additionally, Goldman joined his colleagues in February 2023 in sending a letter urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to maintain coverage of at-home COVID-19 tests at no-cost to Medicare beneficiaries after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends.
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