NEC Supports Bipartisan Cancer Screening Bill
On Thursday, July 24, the New England Council sent a letter to the New England Congressional Delegation in support of the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage (MCED) Act (S.339/H.R. 842). Data suggests that patients have a greater likelihood of surviving severe diagnoses when identified at an early stage. Additionally, early detection also results in lower health care costs compared to diagnosing at later stages.
Medicare currently covers numerous regularly recommended screening tests; however, these tests alone are not enough to help identify many types of cancer in their earliest stage. The Council was proud to advocate on behalf of this bipartisan, bicameral legislation, which seeks to allow Medicare to cover MCED tests in a timely manner following FDA approval and evidence of clinical benefit.
If you have any questions about this issue or the Council’s Healthcare Committee, please feel free to contact Sean Malone, Director of Federal Affairs, at smalone@newenglandcouncil.com.