Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) Statement on Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act of 2021

Washington, D.C. (March 17, 2021) – Yesterday, a bipartisan coalition of members in the House of Representatives introduced the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act of 2021 (H.R. 1946) in an effort to make the latest cancer screening technologies available to patients.

The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) thanks Reps. Terri Sewell (D-AL), Jodey Arrington (R-TX), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), and Richard Hudson (R-NC) for their leadership in introducing this essential piece of legislation. By ensuring Medicare beneficiaries will be able to access potentially lifesaving cancer screening technologies like multi-cancer early detection (MCED) technology, these Congressional leaders are helping patients and providers gain access to a powerful new weapon for the country's 50-year-old war on cancer.

The Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act will allow the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to cover MCED tests when approved by the Food and Drug Administration. As the leading education and advocacy organization for the cancer care community, representing cancer programs and practices that treat many Americans with late-stage cancer diagnoses, we believe this legislation will help providers access the necessary technologies to find cancer earlier. MCED technologies will be especially important in addressing the access challenges that underserved populations experience, including those in rural areas of the country as well as racial and ethnic minorities.

ACCC joins over 300 organizations representing all 50 states, led by the Prevent Cancer Foundation, in supporting this legislation MCED_sign_on_letter_20210316.pdf (rocketcdn.me). We strongly encourage Congress to pass the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act of 2021 so that healthcare providers can utilize the newest innovations at their disposal once approved by the FDA, and ultimately save more lives.

ACCC represents 28,000 multidisciplinary cancer care professionals from more than 2,100 cancer programs and practices across the United States.

Please contact Kristin Ferguson, DNP, RN, OCN, Senior Director, Cancer Care Delivery & Health Policy, at kferguson@accc-cancer.org with questions.