This bill expands Medicare coverage for FDA-approved lung cancer screening tests, streamlining the approval process and allowing the Secretary to consider expert recommendations.
Vern Buchanan
Representative
FL-16
The "Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention Act of 2025" expands Medicare coverage to include additional FDA-approved lung cancer screening tests. This allows the Secretary to cover these new tests as preventive services, using expert recommendations for coverage decisions. These changes will be effective immediately upon the enactment of the Act.
Medicare Coverage Expands for Lung Cancer Screenings Under New 2025 Act
The Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention Act of 2025 is shaking up how Medicare covers lung cancer screenings. Instead of being limited to tests covered under a specific existing rule (national coverage determination 210.14), the new law lets Medicare cover any FDA-approved lung cancer screening test as a preventive service.
Fresh Air for Medicare Screenings
The big change here is that the Secretary of Health and Human Services can now greenlight coverage for a wider range of FDA-approved tests. They'll use the standard national coverage determination process – basically, the usual way Medicare decides if it'll pay for something. The Secretary can also tap into expert advice from folks who specialize in preventive care when making these coverage calls. This all kicks in from the day the Act was signed into law, applying to preventive services under Medicare Part B.
Real-World Check
So, what does this mean if you're on Medicare? If you're at high risk for lung cancer (think long-time smokers or those with certain occupational exposures), you might have more screening options available that Medicare will cover. For example, imagine a retired construction worker, who spent years around dust and potential asbestos, is now eligible for a new, more sensitive type of scan that wasn't covered before. This could catch a potential issue way earlier, making treatment more effective.
Catching Problems Early
While this is generally good news for early detection, there's a bit of fine print. The Secretary gets to interpret how expert recommendations influence coverage. This could mean slight differences in what tests are readily available or covered in different areas or situations. Think of it like this: two doctors might have slightly different takes on which test is best, based on the same expert advice, and Medicare's coverage might reflect those nuances (SEC. 2).
Overall, this Act aims to catch lung cancer sooner, potentially saving lives and, down the line, reducing healthcare costs by treating the disease in its earlier stages. It's a move towards more preventative care, giving those at risk a better shot at staying healthy.