Congress recently advanced a key screening-related bill supported by the American College of Radiology and other cancer care advocates.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has favorably reported on the Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS) for Cancer Act. Lawmakers’ decision came as part of a package of 28 bills, forwarded to the full House for consideration.
SCREENS would reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program through 2028, strengthening resources for early disease detection.
“The NBCCEDP provides lifesaving breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to women who are low-income, uninsured or underinsured who do not qualify for Medicaid,” ACR said in a March 28 news update sent to its members.
Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., introduced the bipartisan legislation in 2023. Breast cancer screenings declined over 80% during the pandemic and still remain low in the aftermath, they noted. Previous estimates from the National Cancer Institute forecast an additional 2,500 breast cancer deaths by 2030, due to this interruption. Currently, the program only serves 15% of women eligible for breast cancer services. SCREENS would increase funding while also strengthening outreach and accessibility, supporters noted.
“I am thrilled to see that the Energy & Commerce Committee has reported favorably the bipartisan SCREENS for Cancer Act,” Fitzpatrick said in a March 20 announcement. “Early cancer screenings are an essential tool for saving lives, and I’m proud to co-lead this legislation that would ensure Americans, especially those who are vulnerable and reside in underserved communities, have access to screening services through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.”
Others also supporting the bill include the American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen. Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced similar legislation in the Senate, ACR reported.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.