CBSA Applauds Senator Bennet for Legislation to Ensure Patient Access to Leading-Edge Diagnostics

Yesterday Senator Michael Bennet introduced new legislation in the U.S. Senate that aims to ensure timely Medicare coverage for new, innovative tests that detect multiple types of cancer before symptoms develop. A companion bill was also introduced in the U.S. House last week by Representatives Terri Sewell (AL-07), Jody Arrington (TX-19), Rand Ruiz (CA-36) and Richard Hudson (NC-08).

Senate Bill 5051, the Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, would:

  • Create authority for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to cover blood-based multi-cancer early detection tests and future test methods, once approved by the FDA;
  • Maintain CMS authority to use an evidence-based process to determine coverage parameters for these new tests;
  • And state that new diagnostic technologies will complement, not replace, existing screenings and will not impact existing coverage and cost sharing.

Under current law, Medicare coverage of preventative services is limited to circumstances in which Congress has explicitly authorized coverage or the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends the service with a grade of A or B. In absence of this bill, it could take several years after FDA approval before Medicare beneficiaries could receive coverage for these tests.

CBSA applauds Senator Bennet for his leadership on legislation that will improve patient access to leading-edge cancer diagnostics. We look forward to working with the Senator and his team to advance this bill in the 117th Congress.

Read the press release here, including a quote from CBSA President & CEO Jennifer Jones Paton.

Categories: CBSA News