Bipartisan Bill Aims to Save Lives: Make Early Cancer Detection Easier
Kentucky consistently ranks among the top states for new cancer diagnoses. Now, a bipartisan bill led by U.S. Representative Jodey Arrington aims to make early detection easier and more accessible, potentially saving lives like that of Alex Herring, a 34-year-old Kentuckian who lost his battle with colon cancer.
Arrington, working with U.S. Representative Sewell (D-Alabama), is championing a bill in the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee. The legislation seeks to enable Medicare coverage of multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests once they receive FDA approval. These tests use a simple blood sample to identify multiple cancer types, including colon cancer, before symptoms appear.
The bill, known as the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, has garnered significant support. Nearly 400 lawmakers and over 550 advocacy organizations have thrown their weight behind it. If passed, it could create a pathway for Medicare to cover these advanced screenings, benefiting Kentuckians and Americans nationwide.
Alex Herring's story underscores the importance of early detection. Diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer at just 34, he might have been saved if an early screening had been available. Colon cancer is a slow-growing disease, treatable if caught in its early stages. However, over 70% of cancer-related deaths come from cancers with no commonly available screenings, highlighting the need for innovative detection methods like MCED tests.
The bipartisan MCED Act seeks to address this gap, making lifesaving tests more accessible to Kentuckians and all Americans. Congress is urged to act swiftly and pass the act, potentially saving countless lives and improving cancer outcomes across the nation.
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