Bill > HR1620

This bill, named the Finn Sawyer Access to Cancer Testing Act, seeks to expand Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage for advanced cancer diagnostic and laboratory tests, effective January 1, 2027. Specifically, the bill will cover next-generation genetic sequencing techniques like microarray analysis, DNA and RNA sequencing, and whole-exome sequencing, along with their interpretation, for cancer patients. These tests would be covered once at initial cancer diagnosis, once upon cancer recurrence, and as needed for treatment planning or monitoring. The bill also mandates that Medicare will pay 80% of the test cost (or 100% if paid on an assignment basis) and removes the standard deductible for these tests. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop an education and awareness program about genomic testing, targeting both physicians and the general public, with a particular focus on integrating molecular diagnostic training into medical education, especially for oncology specialists. The goal is to facilitate more comprehensive and personalized cancer testing and treatment approaches.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1620/all-info