H.R. 842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
Enacted as part of HR7148: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026· Feb 3, 2026
Sponsor
Jodey Arrington
Republican · TX-19
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Oct 3, 2025
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-333, Part I.
One blood test, many cancers — and Medicare would pay
Why it matters
A single blood draw could screen for several cancers at once, long before symptoms show. H.R. 842 would open a path for Medicare to cover those tests, and it carries 338 cosponsors from both parties — one of the most widely backed health bills in the House. The catch is in the fine print: coverage would not begin until 2028, Medicare would pay for only one test every 11 months, and it would phase in by age, starting with the youngest beneficiaries and leaving out anyone already 68 or older when it launches.
H.R. 842 would add a new Medicare screening benefit for multi-cancer early detection tests beginning January 1, 2028. These tests are designed to look for several cancer types across different organs in a single test, with blood-based genomic tests as the main model.
Not every test would qualify. A test would have to be cleared or approved by the FDA, and federal health officials would still have to decide, through Medicare's national coverage process, that it is reasonable and necessary for Medicare patients.
Two big limits are built in. Medicare generally could not pay for more than one of these tests within 11 months, and it could not pay for anyone who had already reached age 68 by the start of 2028. That age cap rises by one year each year after that.
So the cutoff would be 68 in 2028, 69 in 2029, 70 in 2030, and onward. In practice, the benefit would start with beneficiaries in their mid-to-late 60s and open to older ages one year at a time. If a covered test later earns a top A or B rating from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the age and frequency limits would drop away.
The bill also says this new coverage cannot be used to cut back existing Medicare screening for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer. It adds a screening option rather than swapping out the ones already in place.
H.R. 842 Bill Summary
What H.R. 842 actually does.
Medicare starts covering multi-cancer screening in 2028
Beginning January 1, 2028, Medicare could cover qualifying multi-cancer early detection screening tests for people with Part A or Part B coverage.
Only FDA-reviewed tests get in
A covered test must detect multiple cancers across multiple organs and must already be cleared, classified, or approved through the FDA pathway the bill lays out.
Blood-based tests are the main target
The bill is built around genomic blood tests that analyze cell-free DNA, though other biological-sample tests could qualify if federal officials find the results comparable.
One test every 11 months
Medicare generally could not pay for another multi-cancer screening test if you already had one in the previous 11 months.
Coverage phases in by age
Medicare could not pay in 2028 for anyone already 68 or older on January 1 of that year. The cutoff rises one year annually, so the benefit reaches older ages over time.
Existing cancer screenings stay in place
The bill says this new coverage cannot be used to reduce Medicare coverage for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer screening.
Payment is tied to a known benchmark
Before 2031, Medicare would pay the same rate it uses for a multi-target stool DNA screening test. Starting in 2031, it would pay the lower of that benchmark or the rate set under Medicare's lab payment system.
Who benefits from H.R. 842?
Medicare patients under the yearly age cap
If you are on Medicare and below the bill's age cutoff, H.R. 842 could give you access to a single test that screens for multiple cancers at once, starting in 2028.
People who want a blood-based screening option
The bill is aimed at blood tests, so patients who prefer a simple blood draw over more invasive procedures could gain a new Medicare-covered option if a product qualifies.
Companies developing multi-cancer detection tests
Test makers could gain a defined Medicare coverage pathway if their products clear the FDA process and win a national coverage decision from federal health officials.
Patients already using standard screenings
People who rely on mammograms, colonoscopies, lung scans, or prostate screening keep those benefits. The bill says this new coverage cannot replace them.
Who is affected by H.R. 842?
Beneficiaries 68 and older in 2028
If you had already turned 68 by January 1, 2028, Medicare payment for these tests would be excluded that year under the bill's age rule, until the rising cutoff reaches your age.
People who want repeat testing within a year
If you want another multi-cancer screening test within 11 months, Medicare generally would not pay for it unless the covered test later earns a top U.S. Preventive Services Task Force rating.
Federal health officials
Officials at Health and Human Services would have to decide which tests are reasonable and necessary for Medicare patients through the national coverage determination process.
Test developers without FDA clearance or approval
Products that have not gone through the required FDA review path would not qualify for this Medicare coverage route.
HR842 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Oct 3, 2025
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-333, Part I.
House: Vote: 43-0
Sep 17, 2025
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 43 - 0.
House: Committee Action
Jan 31, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
About the Sponsor
Jodey Arrington
Republican, Texas's 19th congressional district · 9 years in Congress
Committees: the Budget, Joint Economic Committee, Ways and Means
View full profile →
Cosponsors at time of passage (338)
This bill has 338 cosponsors: 185 Democrats, 153 Republicans, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 47 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, and 44 more.
Terri Sewell
Democrat · AL
Richard Hudson
Republican · NC
Raul Ruiz
Democrat · CA
Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Republican · IA
Robin Kelly
Democrat · IL
Carol Miller
Republican · WV
Sylvester Turner
Democrat · TX
August Pfluger
Republican · TX
Morgan McGarvey
Democrat · KY
Mike Carey
Republican · OH
Jared Moskowitz
Democrat · FL
Dan Crenshaw
Republican · TX
Cosponsor Coverage Map
Committee Sponsors
Ways and Means Committee
40 of 45 committee members cosponsored at the time
Energy and Commerce Committee
44 of 54 committee members cosponsored at the time
What laws does H.R. 842 change?
1 changes
Sections Amended
Section 1834 of Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m)
adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(aa) Payment and Standards for Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Tests
H.R. 842 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Ways and Means
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Health
- Introduced
- Jan 31, 2025
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-333, Part I.
Oct 3, 2025
Official Sources
Official bill page with status, text, cosponsors, and actions for H.R. 842.
The bill requires federal health officials to use Medicare's national coverage determination process to decide whether a new multi-cancer test is reasonable and necessary.
Multi-cancer early detection tests described in the bill would be regulated as in vitro diagnostic medical devices reviewed by FDA.
The bill references clearance under section 510(k) as one FDA pathway a qualifying test can use.
The bill references classification under section 513(f)(2), which is FDA's De Novo classification pathway for certain new device types.
The bill also allows tests approved under section 515 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to qualify.
The bill's age and frequency limits fall away if a covered test earns a grade of A or B from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
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Who is lobbying on H.R. 842?
9 organizations lobbying on this bill
EXACT SCIENCES CORPORATION | 10 |
GRAIL, INC. (FORMERLY GRAIL, LLC) | 10 |
JOHN HANCOCK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (USA) (FKA JOHN HANCOCK FIN. SERVICES, INC.) | 4 |
NATIONAL MINORITY QUALITY FORUM ACTION NETWORK | 4 |
GRAIL, INC | 4 |
JOHN HANCOCK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (U.S.A.) | 4 |
TIBER CREEK HEALTH STRATEGIES, INC. ON BEHALF OF GRAIL, LLC | 3 |
CURING STOMACH CANCER: DEBBIE'S DREAM FOUNDATION | 3 |
GRAIL, LLC | 2 |
Showing 1-9 of 9 organizations
H.R. 842 Common Questions
What would H.R. 842 do?
It would let Medicare cover certain multi-cancer early detection tests starting in 2028. These tests are designed to screen for several cancers at once, usually from a single blood sample.
When would Medicare start covering these cancer blood tests?
Coverage would begin January 1, 2028, but only if a test meets the bill's standards and Medicare clears it through the national coverage process. Nothing is covered automatically.
Who could get a Medicare-covered multi-cancer test under H.R. 842?
People on Medicare Part A or Part B, as long as you are under the yearly age cutoff and have not had one of these tests in the past 11 months.
What is the age cutoff in H.R. 842?
It starts at 68 in 2028, then rises to 69 in 2029, 70 in 2030, and so on. It is based on your age as of January 1 that year, so the benefit begins with younger beneficiaries and reaches older ages over time.
How often would Medicare pay for one of these tests?
Generally no more than once every 11 months. That limit would drop away if a covered test later earns a grade of A or B from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
Would H.R. 842 replace mammograms or colon cancer screening?
No. The bill says this new coverage cannot be used to cut existing Medicare screening for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer. It adds an option instead of swapping one out.
What would a covered test cost Medicare?
Before 2031, Medicare would pay the same rate it uses for a multi-target stool DNA screening test. Starting in 2031, it would pay the lower of that benchmark or the rate set under Medicare's lab payment system.
What is the current status of H.R. 842?
It was reported as amended by the House Ways and Means Committee and carries 338 cosponsors from both parties, making it one of the most widely backed health bills in the House.
Based on H.R. 842 bill text
H.R. 842 Bill Text
“To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of multi-cancer early detection screening tests.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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