Terri Sewell's cancer screening bill passes House Ways and Means Committee

A bill to expand access to cancer screenings for seniors introduced by Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) has unanimously passed the House Ways and Means Committee, said an announcement on Thursday. 

H.R. 2407, or the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act, passed the committee by a vote of 38-0. 

“Cancer knows no political party, and I’m proud of the bipartisan and unanimous work of the Ways and Means Committee to advance this bill,” Sewell said. “After years of tireless advocacy, we are one step closer to expanding access to new, early detection cancer screenings for our seniors.”

“While my mother is no longer with us, I know that she is smiling down on us today,” continued Sewell. “The legacy of Nancy Gardner Sewell will live on in the millions of Americans whose lives will be changed by this legislation. What keeps me going is knowing that what we do today will save countless lives in the future and pave the way for a world without cancer.”

The announcement from Sewell said that while new MCED technologies are being developed, coverage by Medicaid may take more than a decade after they're approved by the FDA. 

Sewell's bill will reportedly provide easier access after FDA approval. Rep. Jodey Arrington from Texas was the Republican lead on the bill, which was named after Sewell's mother following her death of pancreatic cancer in 2021. 

“We are pleased to see the House Committee on Ways and Means take a step toward passing the bipartisan Nancy Gardner Sewell MCED Screening Coverage Act,” said Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

“We thank Representatives Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and Terri Sewell (D-AL) for continuing to champion this important legislation which has the potential to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Medicare enrollees and their families. In 2024, more than 2 million Americans are expected to be diagnosed with cancer and over 1 million of those cases are expected to be diagnosed in individuals over the age of 65. The Act creates a pathway to ensure timely Medicare coverage of new, innovative multi-cancer screening tests and expand access to early detection once clinical benefit is shown.”