Lung cancer kills more Americans than any other cancer, and catching it early through screening dramatically improves survival odds. Starting in 2028, this bill would require Medicaid to cover annual lung cancer screenings at no cost for patients who meet federal screening guidelines and removes the requirement that patients obtain prior authorization before getting screened. Those no-prior-authorization protections would also extend to Medicare and private health insurance. Medicaid coverage for tobacco cessation counseling and medications — currently limited to pregnant women — would expand to all Medicaid enrollees with no cost sharing. The bill also funds a five-year public education campaign at $10 million per year and requires a federal study on which populations are being missed by current screening programs.
Average Household Impact
- Medicaid lung cancer screening — Added as mandatory covered benefit with no cost sharing starting January 2028
- Prior authorization for lung cancer screening — Removed across Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance plans starting January 2028
- Tobacco cessation coverage — Expanded from pregnant Medicaid enrollees only to all Medicaid enrollees, with no cost sharing
Transparency & Accountability
- Lung cancer screening demographics study — Comptroller General required to report to Congress on underserved screening populations within 1 year of enactment
Congressional Summary
Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening ActThis 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.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2026-05-19
- Date Added
- 2026-06-13
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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