In February 2025, Representatives Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Jodey Arrington (R-TX) reintroduced the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act (H.R. 842, S. 339), in the House of Representatives. This legislation would authorize Medicare to cover FDA-approved multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests, ensuring timely access to innovative screening tools for older adults. This bill is gaining significant traction, backed by bipartisan support, with 240 House cosponsors and 50 senators currently on board.  

MCED tests represent a major leap forward in cancer diagnostics, using blood-based methods to detect multiple cancers at once, often before symptoms emerge. For Medicare beneficiaries, who are at increased risk simply due to age, early detection can mean more treatment options and better outcomes. H.R. 842 and S. 339 ensure that these tests will not replace existing screenings, but rather complement existing screenings, and that patient cost-sharing won’t be affected.  

If passed, the bill would:  

• Authorize the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to cover FDA-approved MCED tests with demonstrated clinical benefit.  
• Preserve CMS’ evidence-based process to determine how coverage is implemented.   
• Reinforce that MCED tests augment, not replace, existing cancer screenings, and that cost-sharing will not be impacted.  

With over 500 organizations nationwide expressing support, this legislation reflects a united front across healthcare specialties. For physicians, patients, and policy leaders, this legislation offers a pivotal opportunity to advance cancer care equity and innovation within the Medicare framework.  

Stay tuned for further updates as this legislation continues to evolve.  

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