There is no better-known disease for which there is seemingly no cure than cancer. It touches each of our lives, directly or indirectly. More than 30,000 Kentuckians will discover they have cancer this year. Sadly, just over 10,000 will die from the disease. However, thanks to advancements in early cancer detection, there is something we can do about it.
Spotting cancer early is critical to survival because once the disease spreads, it is often too aggressive and far gone for effective treatment. That’s why colonoscopies, pap smears, and mammograms are routine preventative medicine now. If physicians catch cancer early through these screenings, the five-year survival rate hits nearly 90%. Screening has been shown to save lives.
The best-proven defense in our war against cancer is access to early screening. In the past, when American innovation produced the first generation of cancer screening technology, Congress worked swiftly to modernize outdated Medicare laws. This enabled senior citizens, who are most at risk of cancer, to take advantage of the latest technology when it became available.
Today, with more than 100 cancer types, only five have recommended screening options. The good news is that we’ve recently experienced major breakthroughs. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration is reviewing multi-cancer early detection (MCED) technologies. Some of these blood-based tests can screen for dozens of different cancers simultaneously.
These tests will become more common as computer science and genomic science rapidly improve. But, like the first generation of cancer screenings, they won’t become widely accessible to Medicare beneficiaries without action from our legislators in Washington.
Recently, during a House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing, Rep. Guthrie voiced his support for multi-cancer early detection and its promise to detect cancer in earlier stages and improve healthcare outcomes. We agree that “these tools represent another opportunity to ensure our Medicare policies strike the appropriate balance of increasing access while driving higher quality care.”
That’s why we’re urging Congress to pass the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, which has earned the support of more than 300 members of Congress, including Rep. Guthrie.
Kentucky is uniquely positioned to ensure this important bill crosses the finish line. Back in March, Kentucky’s state legislature overwhelmingly passed House Bill 180, bipartisan legislation expanding biomarker testing coverage. This screening helps connect cancer patients with the right treatment at the right time.
Congress should follow the lead of Kentucky’s state lawmakers, who have already seized the opportunity to save lives by ensuring innovation keeps pace with coverage pathways.
As anyone impacted by cancer knows, it is a life-or-death disease. We simply cannot delay the passage of the newly re-introduced Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act (S. 2085 & H.R. 2407).
Now is the time to chart a new course for cancer outcomes in the Commonwealth, and with the right tools, we can prevent unnecessary cancer death and suffering. The first step is for Congress to pass the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act in 2023.
Together we can catch and prevent cancer early because patients are counting on it.
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