Hello Cancer Advocates,
BIG NEWS! Earlier this month, Congress passed bipartisan legislation known as the MCED Act (Nancy Gardener Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act), the biggest breakthrough in early detection access that we’ve had over the course of the past year. Here are 3 key facts to know about this bill:
- Expands access to screenings: Prior to MCED being passed, Medicare only allowed for Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) screenings to cover Breast Cancers, Lung Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Cervical Cancer, and Prostate Cancers. Now, Medicare can expand the parameters of these tests covered, thus increasing the scope that the MCED may have on patients.
- Phasing in through 2035: MCEDs haven’t fully been approved yet by the FDA, and its estimated that the full approval will not happen until 2028. Beginning Jan 1, 2028, the maximum age threshold of coverage will increase by one year with each fiscal year’s end. For example, in 2028 those aged 68 years and younger will be covered, in 2029 those aged 69 years and younger will be covered, and so on.
- Potential for change: Early detection of cancer is the best way to prevent it from spreading further. The passage of the MCED increases access to these services for communities across the nation. According to ACS CAN, 20% of Medicare beneficiaries live in rural communities with limited access to healthcare resources. The MCED bill poses a great benefit to those that fit within this bracket by allowing them the opportunity to find resources that parallel those in more suburban settings and receiving the care that they need in time.
This progress is all because of the work from cancer advocates like you who are continuing to fight against cancer. Thank you for your hard work!
~Sahira, NYCET Advocacy Subcommittee Member