S. 339: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
Enacted as part of HR7148: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026· Feb 3, 2026
Sponsor
Mike Crapo
Republican · ID
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Jan 30, 2025
Read twice and Referred to Finance. for review
Medicare should cover blood tests that spot multiple cancers
Why it matters
Starting in 2028, Medicare could pay for one blood-based screening test that looks for multiple cancers at once. But S. 339 would begin with a hard age cutoff: if you were already 68 on January 1, 2028, Medicare would not pay unless the test later wins a top federal prevention rating.
S. 339 creates a Medicare coverage pathway for multi-cancer early detection tests beginning in 2028. To qualify, a test has to look for multiple cancers across multiple organs, have FDA clearance or approval, and be deemed appropriate for Medicare patients by the Health and Human Services secretary.
The bill is written mainly around blood-based genomic tests that analyze cell-free nucleic acids, though it also allows other biological-sample tests if federal officials decide they produce comparable results. Coverage decisions for new tests would go through Medicare's national coverage determination process.
Access would not be unlimited at first. Medicare would generally pay for no more than one of these tests within 11 months, and it would not pay in 2028 if you had already turned 68 by January 1 of that year. That age threshold rises by one year annually after that.
Those limits disappear if a test receives a grade of A or B from the United States Preventive Services Task Force. The bill also says adding this benefit cannot reduce Medicare coverage for existing screenings like breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer tests.
What does S. 339 do?
Medicare starts covering multi-cancer screening in 2028
Beginning in 2028, Medicare could cover qualifying multi-cancer early detection tests for people in Part A or Part B once federal health officials determine the test is appropriate and medically justified for Medicare patients.
One test can screen for multiple cancers
The bill covers tests designed to detect multiple cancer types across multiple organs in a single screening, rather than a test aimed at just one cancer.
Most qualifying tests will be blood-based
S. 339 is built mainly around genomic blood or blood-product tests that analyze cell-free nucleic acids, but it leaves room for other biological-sample tests if the government decides they deliver comparable results.
Repeat testing is limited
Medicare would generally not pay for another covered test if you had one in the previous 11 months.
Older beneficiaries are initially excluded
The bill blocks payment in 2028 for anyone who had already reached age 68 by January 1 of that year. The threshold then rises to 69 in 2029, 70 in 2030, and continues increasing by one year annually.
A top prevention rating wipes out the limits
If the United States Preventive Services Task Force gives a test an A or B grade, the age cutoff and 11-month limit no longer apply to that test.
Current cancer screenings stay in place
The bill says Medicare coverage for mammograms and other existing screenings for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer cannot be reduced just because this new category is added.
Who benefits from S. 339?
Medicare patients who want earlier warning signs
If you are eligible, S. 339 could give you Medicare coverage for a single screening test aimed at detecting multiple cancers before symptoms appear.
People approaching Medicare age in coming years
Because the age threshold rises by one year every year after 2028, younger Medicare beneficiaries would gradually gain a clearer path to coverage.
Doctors adding a new screening option
Clinicians would have another Medicare-paid screening tool to discuss with patients, while still keeping standard cancer screenings in place.
Companies making qualifying cancer detection tests
Manufacturers whose tests clear federal review and meet Medicare's standards would get a defined national coverage pathway for this new category of screening.
Who is affected by S. 339?
Beneficiaries already 68 or older in 2028
If you had turned 68 by January 1, 2028, Medicare would not pay for the new screening that year unless the test later receives an A or B recommendation from the federal preventive services panel.
Patients seeking frequent repeat screening
Anyone wanting another covered test within 11 months would generally have to pay out of pocket unless the test has that A or B recommendation.
Test makers whose products do not qualify
Tests that are not cleared or approved by FDA, or that Medicare does not find appropriate for detecting multiple cancers across multiple organs, would not be covered.
Federal health officials running coverage reviews
Health and Human Services would have to evaluate new tests through Medicare's national coverage determination process and decide whether non-blood tests are comparable enough to qualify.
What Congress Is Saying
S. 339 hasn't been debated on the floor yet.
This section updates when a legislator speaks about it on the floor or in committee.
S339 Legislative Journey
Committee Action
Jan 30, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
About the Sponsor
Mike Crapo
Republican, ID · 33 years in Congress
Committees: Finance, Joint Committee on Taxation, Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
View full profile →
Cosponsors at time of passage (68)
This bill has 68 cosponsors: 35 Democrats, 32 Republicans, 1 Independent, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 44 states: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, and 41 more.
Michael Bennet
Democrat · CO
Tim Scott
Republican · SC
Ron Wyden
Democrat · OR
James Lankford
Republican · OK
Mike Rounds
Republican · SD
Thomas Tillis
Republican · NC
Ted Budd
Republican · NC
Amy Klobuchar
Democrat · MN
Roger Marshall
Republican · KS
Jon Ossoff
Democrat · GA
James Risch
Republican · ID
Jeff Merkley
Democrat · OR
Committee Sponsors
Finance Committee
19 of 27 committee members cosponsored at the time
S. 339 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Finance
- Chamber
- Senate
- Policy
- Health
- Introduced
- Jan 30, 2025
Read twice and Referred to Finance. for review
Jan 30, 2025
Official Sources
Official Congress.gov page for the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act.
The bill requires the Secretary to use Medicare's national coverage determination process when deciding coverage for new multi-cancer early detection tests.
Official Medicare information on preventive screening coverage, relevant to how this new screening category would fit within existing Medicare benefits.
Official FDA page covering one of the approval pathways specifically referenced in the bill text for qualifying cancer detection tests.
The bill says adding multi-cancer early detection tests cannot reduce coverage for existing screenings such as colorectal cancer screening.
About Legisletter
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S. 339 Common Questions
When would Medicare start covering these multi-cancer blood tests?
If S. 339 passes, Medicare coverage would begin for qualifying tests on or after January 1, 2028.
Would Medicare cover a blood test that checks for several cancers at once?
Yes, if the test meets the bill's standards. It must detect multiple cancers across multiple organs, have FDA clearance or approval, and be approved by Medicare as appropriate for beneficiaries.
How often would Medicare pay for the test?
Generally, once every 11 months. If you had one of these covered tests during the previous 11 months, Medicare would not pay for another one.
Would people 68 and older be excluded in 2028?
Yes, at first. S. 339 says Medicare would not pay in 2028 if you had already turned 68 by January 1 of that year.
Does that age limit stay at 68 forever?
No. The cutoff rises by 1 year each year after 2028—69 in 2029, 70 in 2030, 71 in 2031, and so on.
What happens if the test gets a top federal prevention rating?
If the United States Preventive Services Task Force gives a test a grade of A or B, the bill says the age cap and 11-month limit would no longer apply to that test.
Would this replace mammograms or colon cancer screening?
No. S. 339 says Medicare coverage for existing screenings like breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer tests would stay in place.
Does S. 339 set a specific price Medicare would pay?
Not a new dollar amount. Before 2031, payment would track the rate for a covered stool DNA screening test. After that, Medicare would use the lower of that benchmark or its regular lab-test pricing formula.
Based on S. 339 bill text
S. 339 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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