A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S2377-2379)
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act aims to expand healthcare coverage for lung cancer prevention and treatment. It requires Medicaid to cover annual lung cancer screenings with no cost sharing for eligible individuals without requiring prior authorization. The bill also expands Medicaid coverage for tobacco use cessation, including counseling and pharmacotherapy, to all Medicaid individuals. Furthermore, it prohibits prior authorization requirements for annual lung cancer screenings under Medicare and certain group or individual health insurance plans. Finally, the Act mandates an education and outreach campaign regarding lung cancer screenings and requires a demographic report on lung cancer diagnoses.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +7
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill increases healthcare access by prohibiting prior authorization for annual lung cancer screenings under Medicare, Medicaid, and private plans.
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill expands Medicaid coverage for lung cancer screenings and tobacco cessation without cost sharing.
- Scored +5
Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes?
The bill mandates Medicaid coverage for annual lung cancer screenings and tobacco cessation without cost sharing.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved access to lung cancer screenings: Medicaid must cover annual lung cancer screenings for eligible individuals with no cost sharing and without the need for prior authorization (Section 2).
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Expanded tobacco cessation support: Medicaid coverage for counseling and pharmacotherapy for tobacco use cessation, which includes e-cigarettes or vape pens, is expanded to all Medicaid individuals (Section s 3).
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Removal of insurance barriers: Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, and certain group or individual health insurance plans are prohibited from requiring prior authorization for annual lung cancer screenings when recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (Sections 4a and 4b).
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Increased public awareness: The Secretary of Health and Human Services will conduct an education and outreach campaign to inform individuals and healthcare providers about the importance of lung cancer screenings and who should receive them (Section 5).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Delayed implementation due to state laws: For some states, the new Medicaid requirements may not take effect until after the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the Act's enactment, if State legislation is required to meet the new requirements (Section 2 and Section 3).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill increases healthcare access by prohibiting prior authorization for annual lung cancer screenings under Medicare, Medicaid, and private plans. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill mandates Medicaid coverage for annual lung cancer screenings and tobacco cessation without cost sharing. Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act? — The bill expands coverage protections for group and individual health insurance plans regarding lung cancer screenings.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill expands Medicaid coverage for lung cancer screenings and tobacco cessation without cost sharing. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill improves Medicare coverage by removing prior authorization requirements for annual lung cancer screenings. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill directs the Comptroller General to identify how to improve screening for veterans in a report on lung cancer demographics.
- 5/19/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S2377-2379)
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii