Weekly Policy Update: CBSA Applauds Senator Bennet’s Leadership on Early Cancer Detection Legislation
By: Colorado BioScience Association Date: 08/16/2021
Last week, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet hosted a roundtable discussion on his Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act. Kathleen (Kiki) Traylor, M.D., State Affairs Director at Amgen, and CBSA board of directors vice chair attended on behalf of CBSA and participated in the discussion with local advocates including cancer survivors and doctors.
CBSA applauds Senator Bennet for his leadership on legislation that will detect cancer earlier, advance health, reduce costs and improve patient lives.
The bipartisan legislation was reintroduced by U.S. Senator Bennet and U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) in May to provide Medicare coverage for multi-cancer screening tests to save lives and costs to the health care system. It would ensure Medicare beneficiaries have coverage for innovative tests that can detect multiple types of cancer before symptoms develop.
Senator Michael Bennet said:
“Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. I know from personal experience that early detection can make all the difference. This legislation will ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have access to the latest diagnostic technologies, which have enormous potential to save lives and costs to our health care system.”
During this meeting, participants discussed the important impacts this legislation has on patients and the hope it delivers. Multi-cancer early detection tests have the potential to be among the most important advances in the War on Cancer in our lifetime. The legislation helps ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have timely access to an important test.
CBSA appreciates the Senator’s continued leadership and support of our life sciences ecosystem. We look forward to continuing our work with his office to advance policies that drive health innovation and improve patient access.