The bill aims to improve access to lung cancer screening and tobacco cessation for Medicaid recipients and individuals with private health insurance. For Medicaid, the bill expands coverage for annual lung cancer screenings and tobacco cessation services without cost-sharing requirements. Medicare and private insurers are also required to cover annual lung cancer screenings without prior authorization. Additionally, there's a provision for lung cancer education and outreach, allocating $10 million annually for 5 years. A report is mandated to identify demographic gaps in current screening eligibility guidelines and make recommendations for improving screening. Effective dates for most provisions are set for January 1, 2028.
Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act
This bill provides for coverage without prior authorization requirements of annual lung cancer screenings under Medicaid, Medicare, and private health insurance for individuals for whom screenings are recommended under U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines (as of March 9, 2021).
It also expands Medicaid coverage of counseling and pharmacotherapy for cessation of tobacco use to include such services for (1) all individuals, rather than only pregnant women; and (2) the use of vapes and e-cigarettes.
The Department of Health and Human Services must conduct outreach on the importance of lung cancer screenings and who should be screened, and the Government Accountability Office must report on the demographics of those diagnosed with lung cancer and recommend ways the federal government can improve screenings.
