Senator cosponsored bipartisan bill allowing Medicare beneficiaries to access FDA-approved multi-cancer screening tests
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act – bipartisan legislation allowing Medicare beneficiaries to access multi-cancer screening tests once approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA).
“Multi-cancer screening tests can detect disease early and save lives. We’re eliminating barriers so Arizona seniors can access FDA-approved life-saving care and innovation when they need it,” said Sinema.
Sinema’s bipartisan Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act allows Arizona Medicare patients to access these tests once they have been approved by the FDA. Without Sinema’s legislation, Arizona Medicare beneficiaries could potentially have to wait several years to access these advanced cancer screening tests.
Medicare currently only covers preventative services authorized by Congress or recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Through her bipartisan bill, Sinema is working to ensure that Arizona Medicare beneficiaries don’t have to wait for Congress or the U.S. Preventative Services to receive life-saving care once innovative multi-cancer screening tests are FDA-approved.
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 41,120 Arizonans will be diagnosed with new cancer cases this year, and over 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.
Last year, the Cancer Patient Coalition presented Sinema with the Cancer Hero Award for her commitment to the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act.