Early Reports: MCED Medicare Legislation Passes Both House & Senate in Budget Bill.
The recent draft federal budget legislation included a section for Multi Cancer Early Detection MCED coverage, "IF" CMS were to write a national coverage determination (NCD) that allows it. The MCED section, 6221, is reported to have "survived" into the final edit, and has passed House and Senate by Feb. 2, 2026.
See a rapid press release from Exact Sciences here.
The legislation allows CMS to write an NCD if it chooses, for an FDA approved MCED test. CMS is not required to wait for USPSTF endorsement. The benefit is guarded; for Medicare patients age 50-64, and price capped at about $600 (= Cologuard), and not starting for several years (and, if, CMS makes that NCD). Legislation for MCED has circulated in varying forms for a couple years.
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See press from Jan 22, House passage. Here. Rep. Terri Swell (AL); the "Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare MCED Screening Coverage Act." (Prior introduction as HR 842; added to Appropriation bill.)
See early support from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network ACS CAN here.
