Senator’s bipartisan bill allows 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).
“We’re increasing Arizona Medicare beneficiaries’ access to health care by allowing them to receive multi-cancer screening tests once they are FDA-approved, instead of waiting for slow action from the federal government,” said Sinema.
Currently, Medicare only covers preventative services authorized by Congress or recommended by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force. Sinema’s bipartisan legislation allows Arizona Medicare patients to access these tests once a 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 for Congress or the U.S. Preventative Services to act.
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.
The American Cancer Society needs volunteers to drive cancer patients to their medical appointments in Arizona. Click HERE to volunteer.