Early Access to Screening Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8551
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-28: 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-18T17:43:50Z
AI-Generated Summary
H.R. 8551: Early Access to Screening Act
Purpose
To require no-cost coverage for annual screening mammography (X-ray exams to detect breast cancer early) for women over age 29 (starting at age 30) under Medicare, Medicaid, and most private health insurance plans, effective mainly on or after January 1, 2026.
Key Provisions
- Medicare (Title XVIII of Social Security Act):
- No coverage for women under 30.
- Annual coverage (no more than one every 12 months) for women over 29.
- Zero patient cost-sharing (no deductibles, copays, or coinsurance).
- Medicaid (Title XIX of Social Security Act):
- Makes annual screening mammography a mandatory benefit for individuals over 29.
- Applies to standard plans, medically needy programs, and benchmark/alternative plans.
- Prohibits any cost-sharing.
- Private Insurance (Title XXVII of Public Health Service Act):
- Requires group health plans and individual/group insurance to cover annual mammography for women over 29 with no cost-sharing.
- Applies to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Lowers the typical starting age for routine screening mammography from 40 to 30.
- Shifts Medicare from flexible/biennial frequency (pre-2026) to strictly annual for ages 30+ (post-2026).
- Eliminates all cost-sharing across programs, expanding prior rules that allowed limited patient costs.
- Makes mammography a required Medicaid service, overriding some state flexibility in benefit design.
Potential Impacts
- Citizens: Improved access to early breast cancer detection for women aged 30-39, potentially leading to earlier diagnoses and better health outcomes; no out-of-pocket costs.
- Government Agencies: Increased costs for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) under Medicare/Medicaid; states must adjust Medicaid programs, raising administrative and spending burdens.
- Private Sector: Higher premiums or costs for insurers and employers offering health plans.
- No direct impact on international relations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Women over 29: Primary beneficiaries with expanded preventive care.
- Healthcare Providers: Increased demand for mammography services.
- Insurers and Employers: Mandated coverage increases financial responsibilities.
- Federal/State Governments: CMS and state Medicaid agencies face higher expenditures and implementation requirements.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Relies on Congress's spending power (for Medicare/Medicaid) and commerce clause authority (for insurance mandates), consistent with prior health reforms like the Affordable Care Act.
- May raise fiscal concerns due to unfunded mandates on states/insurers and added federal spending without specified offsets.
- Politically, promotes preventive health equity but could spark debates on healthcare costs and age-based screening guidelines from medical bodies (e.g., USPSTF recommends starting at 40-50).
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-28: 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.
- 2026-04-28: 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.
- 2026-04-28: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-28: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Early Access to Screening Act — issued 2026-04-28 — PDF (8 pages)