Find It Early Act
- Bill Number
- S. 1410
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-10: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-13T11:03:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Find It Early Act" (S. 1410) aims to expand access to preventive breast cancer screenings by requiring certain health coverage programs to provide screening and diagnostic imaging services without any cost-sharing (such as deductibles, copays, or coinsurance) for individuals at higher risk of breast cancer. This includes people with specific risk factors or dense breast tissue, promoting early detection to improve health outcomes.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility for Coverage: Applies to individuals who:
- Are at increased risk of breast cancer (based on the latest guidelines from the American College of Radiology or National Comprehensive Cancer Network) or have heterogeneously or extremely dense breast tissue (as classified by the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System, a standard tool for interpreting breast imaging results).
- Are determined by a healthcare provider to need additional screening due to factors like age, race, ethnicity, personal medical history, or family medical history, even if not in the high-risk category above.
- Covered Services: Includes unlimited frequency of screening and diagnostic imaging for breast cancer detection, such as:
- 2D or 3D mammograms.
- Breast ultrasounds.
- Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Molecular breast imaging.
- Other technologies approved under the referenced guidelines.
- No Cost-Sharing Requirement: Beneficiaries pay nothing out-of-pocket for these services.
- Effective Date: Provisions take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. For Medicaid, states get extra time if they need to pass legislation to comply.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Group and Individual Health Plans (Affordable Care Act): Amends Section 2713 of the Public Health Service Act to add these breast screenings as a required preventive service without cost-sharing, expanding beyond current requirements (which focus on routine mammograms for women over 40). Applies to grandfathered plans (older plans exempt from some ACA rules) by updating the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
- Medicare: Updates Section 1861(ddd) of the Social Security Act to include these screenings as additional preventive services, separate from U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations. Medicare Advantage plans must follow suit without cost-sharing.
- Medicaid: Modifies Section 1905(a) of the Social Security Act to mandate coverage without cost-sharing or frequency limits. Benchmark plans (state-designed coverage options) must include these services. Exempts these screenings from general cost-sharing rules.
- TRICARE (Military Health): Amends Title 10 of the U.S. Code to cover these services for eligible uniformed services members and families under TRICARE Prime and Select plans, eliminating cost-sharing.
- Veterans Health: Adds a new Section 1720K to Title 38 of the U.S. Code, requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide these screenings to eligible veterans (regardless of enrollment status) without copays or other costs.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Increases access to early breast cancer detection for at-risk women across public and private insurance, potentially leading to earlier diagnoses, better treatment outcomes, and reduced long-term healthcare costs from advanced disease. Reduces financial barriers, especially for low-income or underserved groups.
- On Government Agencies: Agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Defense (DoD), and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must update programs, guidelines, and reimbursements, increasing short-term administrative costs but possibly lowering overall cancer treatment expenses.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. health policy.
- Broader Effects: Could encourage more frequent screenings, aligning with public health goals to address disparities in breast cancer rates among different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Individuals: Primarily women at higher risk for breast cancer, including those with dense breasts, genetic predispositions, or relevant medical histories; also veterans, military personnel/families, Medicare beneficiaries (typically 65+), and Medicaid enrollees (often low-income).
- Healthcare Providers: Doctors and radiologists who determine eligibility and perform screenings; they gain clearer guidelines for recommending services.
- Insurers and Payers: Private health plans, Medicare/Medicaid programs, TRICARE, and VA must cover services without passing costs to patients, potentially shifting expenses to premiums or government budgets.
- Advocacy and Professional Groups: Organizations like the American College of Radiology and National Comprehensive Cancer Network, whose guidelines shape implementation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens preventive care mandates under the Affordable Care Act by explicitly including advanced breast imaging, ensuring consistency across federal programs. Provides flexibility for states in Medicaid implementation if legislative changes are needed, avoiding immediate non-compliance penalties.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; aligns with Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce and spending for public health (e.g., via Social Security Act amendments). Promotes equal protection by addressing health disparities without discriminating based on protected classes.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (by Sens. Klobuchar (D-MN) and Marshall (R-KS)) suggests broad support for women's health initiatives. Could influence future expansions of preventive services but may face debate over federal mandates on state programs or added costs to insurers. Referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for further review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (10)
Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD], Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-10: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-04-10: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Find It Early Act — issued 2025-04-10 — PDF (18 pages)