Lame Duck Is the Time To Pass Multi-Cancer Early Detection Test Coverage
By Becky Wimmer
America’s seniors are getting a new tool in the war on cancer: a new blood test to detect colorectal cancer received full Medicare coverage the same week as its FDA approval. It is a boon to patients, and a validation of the work that U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) continues to champion after almost 30 years.
In 1997, Sen. Cardin sponsored legislation that allowed Medicare to cover FDA-approved colon cancer screening technologies. Passage of the legislation ensured that as medical science advanced in the following decades, future colorectal screening technologies not even scientifically contemplated in 1997 could be eligible for coverage once the FDA confirmed their safety and effectiveness. This legislation has driven significant innovations in colorectal cancer screening, including blood-based tests.
Fast forward to today, and the policy that empowered innovation then, is now the model for legislation that puts us on the cusp of another major breakthrough in cancer care. And, fortunately for all of us, our own Sen. Cardin is right in the middle of it.
The Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act has generated support from hundreds of bipartisan members of Congress – 317 in the House of Representatives and 62 in the Senate – who recognize the importance of preventative cancer screenings.
MCED is a revolutionary advancement in science. With a single blood draw, these new screenings can detect dozens of different types of cancers – identifying the presence and location with remarkable accuracy. This is exactly what Americans need in the collective fight against this awful disease.Currently, there are only five recommended cancer screenings including mammograms and colonoscopies. MCED screenings would expand the types of cancer we can catch in the earlier stages, opening the door to earlier diagnosis and treatment for many more of the deadliest cancers.
Seventy percent of cancer deaths occur in patients whose cancer did not have available screening options before receiving their diagnoses in later, harder-to-treat stages. When caught earlier, treatment is often less invasive and less expensive. That’s a win-win for all, especially older adults who face the highest and most serious risks for the disease.
Sen. Cardin’s latest bill would create a pathway to Medicare coverage for MCED tests, just like the pathway established in 1997 for colon cancer screenings. Once the FDA gives final approval, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) could evaluate the evidence and cover the screenings for millions of American seniors who are at elevated risk.
Throughout his decades of public service, Sen. Cardin has made a difference on critical healthcare issues even when the political climate made doing so seem impossible. Establishing a pathway for Medicare to cover MCED tests would encourage innovation as a central pillar of public health and solidify his legacy as a champion for cancer patients. Congress has acted before to ensure all beneficiaries receive immediate access to new screenings and should do so again for tools that can transform cancer care and survival.
Becky Wimmer is the Executive Director of the Maryland Academy of Family Physicians
