Prevent Cancer Foundation applauds the introduction of the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
For Immediate Release
December 3, 2020
Media Contact
莉萨·贝瑞·爱德华兹
Lisa.Berry@preventcancer.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Prevent Cancer Foundation® applauds congressional leaders for the introduction of the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act of 2021, which will usher in a new era in our pursuit to prevent cancer. H.R. 8845 sponsored by U.S. Reps. Terri Sewell (AL-07), Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Raul Ruiz (CA-36), and Richard Hudson (NC-08) will provide seniors with access to emerging innovations that may enable the detection of multiple cancers from a simple blood sample.
“Finding cancer early is one of the surest ways to beat it,” said Carolyn Aldigé, Founder and CEO of the Prevent Cancer Foundation. “At Prevent Cancer Foundation, we’re focused on expanding access to routine and recommended screenings and ensuring patients and their health care providers benefit from the latest innovations to detect cancer earlier. Multi-cancer early detection tests are a medical advance that can dramatically increase our cancer screening capabilities.”
Current screening for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers is vital in reducing the burden of cancer. 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. But today we have recommended screenings for only a few of the more than 200 cancers, leaving most cancers undetected until symptoms appear in later stages.
The ability to expand early detection may be imminent. Scientists have developed new screening technologies that are currently in clinical testing by multiple companies and are showing positive results. With a single blood sample, these tests can identify multiple cancers in early stages. Recognizing the public health impact of this innovation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted these tests breakthrough device designations.
“Once multi-cancer early detection tests are approved by the FDA, we must make sure Medicare coverage of these tests is in place so patients can access and afford them,” said Aldigé. “It is encouraging to see a bipartisan group of forward-thinking members of Congress leading on this issue. Cancer affects so many Americans and multi-cancer screening could make a real and lasting impact on the group at greatest risk of cancer—our seniors.”
This past year has been a particularly difficult one for cancer detection because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to advocating for access to the latest advances in cancer screening, the Prevent Cancer Foundation is focused on ensuring Americans get any missed or delayed screenings 重回书本. Learn more about the resources and tools to get your routine cancer screenings done safely.
关于预防癌症基金会
预防癌症基金会® is celebrating 35 years as the only U.S. nonprofit organization focused solely on saving lives across all populations through 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.
基金会正奋起应对到 2035 年将癌症死亡人数减少 40% 的挑战。为实现这一目标，我们承诺投资 $2000 万美元用于创新技术，以早期发现癌症并推进多癌筛查，投资 $1000 万美元用于扩大医疗服务不足社区的癌症筛查和疫苗接种机会，并投资 $1000 万美元用于教育公众有关筛查和疫苗接种的选择。
如需了解更多信息，请访问 www.preventcancer.org.