Sinema was presented the Cancer Hero award for backing the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
PHOENIX – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema met with members of the Cancer Patient Coalition to discuss the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act – bipartisan legislation allowing Medicare beneficiaries to access multi-cancer screening tests once approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“All of Arizona is incredibly grateful for the Cancer Patient Coalition’s advocacy on behalf of Arizona patients and families impacted by cancer. I look forward to working with them to get this important bill across the finish line,” said Sinema.
A coalition of Arizona cancer advocacy groups presented Sinema with the Cancer Hero award for her support of the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act.
Currently, Medicare only covers preventative services authorized by Congress or recommended by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force. The Sinema-backed bipartisan legislation allows Arizona Medicare patients to access these tests once a multi-cancer screening test has been approved by the FDA. Without Sinema’s legislation, Arizona Medicare beneficiaries could potentially have to wait several years to receive access to these advanced cancer screening tests.
Through the bipartisan Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, Sinema is proactively working to ensure that Arizona Medicare beneficiaries can access multi-screening cancer tests once they are approved by the FDA, and not have to wait years for Congress or the U.S. Preventative Services to act.
Members of the Cancer Patient Coalition participating in the meeting included: A 2nd Act Founder Judy Pearson, Shawna Fellenz and Will Grove of the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona, Mo Osife and Annet Ruiter of the Cancer Support Community of Arizona, Joan Koerber-Walker and Dylan Peay of AZ BIO, and Barbara Kavanagh of AZ Myeloma Network.
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 1.9 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States this year. In 2022, an estimated 40,000 Arizonans will be diagnosed with cancer and 13,000 Arizonans will die from a cancer diagnosis. Breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer are the most common cancers in Arizona. Sinema is working to further support Arizonans’ health through commonsense legislation empowering them to make the best decisions about their health with the best science available.