Bills · S 339
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 339MedicareHealth care coverage and access
Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
INTRO JAN 30· LAST ACTION JAN 30
READING
5MIN
COSPONSORS
68BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it could significantly change how cancer is detected in older Americans. Currently, most cancer screenings target one cancer type at a time (like mammograms for breast cancer or colonoscopies for colorectal cancer). This bill opens the door for Medicare to cover newer tests that could screen for many cancers with a single blood draw, potentially catching cancers earlier, even those for which there are no routine screenings today.
Catching cancer early often leads to more effective treatments, better health outcomes, and potentially less suffering. If these tests prove reliable and effective, this could lead to a major shift in cancer care, improving survival rates and quality of life for many. If the bill doesn't pass, Medicare beneficiaries would not have coverage for these new multi-cancer screening tests, potentially missing out on early detection opportunities for various cancer types.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Adds multi-cancer early detection screening tests to the list of services covered by Medicare Part B, starting January 1, 2028.
This provision creates a pathway for Medicare beneficiaries to access advanced, comprehensive cancer screening technologies.
PROVISION 02
Defines eligible multi-cancer early detection screening tests as those cleared or approved by the FDA, designed for concurrent detection of multiple cancer types, and using genomic sequencing blood or comparable biological samples.
This ensures that only scientifically validated and government-approved tests with specific characteristics are eligible for coverage.
PROVISION 03
Establishes initial limitations for coverage, including a frequency limit of once every 11 months and an age restriction where beneficiaries aged 68 and older (in 2028, increasing annually) are not covered.
These limits aim to manage costs and evaluate the tests' impact before broader adoption, focusing initial coverage on a younger subset of Medicare recipients.
PROVISION 04
Stipulates that if the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) gives a test an 'A' or 'B' recommendation, the specific age and frequency limitations will no longer apply.
This provision links broad coverage to expert medical consensus, ensuring widespread access if the tests are proven highly effective and beneficial.
PROVISION 05
Clarifies that this new coverage does not affect Medicare coverage for existing single-cancer screening tests (e.g., for breast, colorectal, lung cancer).
This ensures that current, established cancer screening practices remain in place and are not replaced by the new multi-cancer tests.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 68
R· Idaho
YRS IN OFFICE
33
BILLS LED
30
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 95%
DEM 35 REP 32 IND 1
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSJAN 30
Introduced in Senate
JAN 30
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 339
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJan 30, 2025
Last actionJan 30, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · FINANCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 30, 2025
Senate BillS 339MedicareHealth care coverage and access
Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
INTRODUCED JAN 30, 2025· LAST ACTION JAN 30, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
5 min
COSPONSORS
68
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
