Prevent Cancer Foundation applauds bipartisan push for groundbreaking Medicare cancer screening bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kyra Meister
703-836-1746
kyra.meister@preventcancer.org
Alexandria, Va. – The Prevent Cancer Foundation strongly supports the reintroduction of the bipartisan Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act (H.R. 842)/Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act (S. 339) in the 119th Congress. This pivotal legislation, set to transform cancer screening and detection, is championed by Representatives Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Richard Hudson (R-N. C.), Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) and Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) and Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
“We have the opportunity to challenge the status quo in the early detection of cancer,” said Jody Hoyos, CEO of the Prevent Cancer Foundation. “By establishing a pathway for Medicare coverage of new transformational cancer detection tools, we move closer to a world where cancer is preventable, detectable and beatable for all. We are grateful to Reps. Arrington, Sewell, Hudson, Ruiz, Miller-Meeks and Kelly and Senators Crapo, Bennet and Scott for their leadership.”
Today, routine screening is available for only five types of cancer, which leaves the vast majority of cancers without available screening tests. Finding cancer early, before it has spread to other parts of the body, increases the likelihood treatment will be successful, lowers the cost of treatment and improves quality of life for patients and their caregivers.
The Foundation has proudly led more than 500 advocacy organizations to support this crucial legislation, reflecting widespread recognition of the urgent need for Medicare to adopt innovative cancer detection technologies. As the legislation advances, the Foundation remains dedicated to advocating for its passage and ensuring that the benefits of MCED testing reach those who need them most.
For more information on multi-cancer early detection, visit preventcancer.org/early.
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About the Prevent Cancer Foundation®
The Prevent Cancer Foundation® is the only U.S.-based nonprofit organization solely dedicated to cancer prevention and early detection. Through research, education, outreach and advocacy, we have helped countless people avoid a cancer diagnosis or detect their cancer early enough to be successfully treated. We are driven by a vision of a world where cancer is preventable, detectable and beatable for all.
The Foundation is rising to meet the challenge of reducing cancer deaths by 40% by 2035. To achieve this, we are committed to investing $20 million for innovative technologies to detect cancer early and advance multi-cancer screening, $10 million to expand cancer screening and vaccination access to medically underserved communities, and $10 million to educate the public about screening and vaccination options.
For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.