Mobile Cancer Screening Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2927
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-24T20:05:01Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Mobile Cancer Screening Act aims to improve access to cancer screening services in rural and underserved communities by funding new mobile cancer screening units. It addresses low screening rates for cancers like lung and breast cancer, which contribute to late-stage diagnoses and higher mortality.
Key Provisions
- Grants and Funding Mechanism: The Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to support the establishment of new mobile cancer screening units.
- Eligible Recipients: Nonprofit hospitals, federally qualified health centers (community-based clinics that provide primary care), academic health centers, health systems, or collaborations among these entities.
- Permitted Uses of Funds:
- Purchasing vehicles for mobile units.
- Acquiring imaging equipment (e.g., for scans like mammograms or low-dose CT for lung cancer).
- Buying digital tools for operations.
- Covering other essential startup or ongoing costs, as determined by the Secretary.
- Award Limits and Requirements:
- Maximum award amount: $2,000,000 per recipient.
- Matching requirement: Recipients must provide non-federal funds or in-kind contributions at a ratio of at least 1:3 (one dollar for every three federal dollars).
- Prioritization Criteria:
- Applications with the greatest potential to reduce cancer deaths and address screening gaps for high-risk groups.
- Focus on underserved areas, including rural communities and those served by the Indian Health Service (federal healthcare for Native American populations).
- Ability to offer follow-up care for abnormal results within 90 minutes by ground travel.
- Reporting and Evaluation: HRSA must submit a report to Congress within four years, detailing:
- Number of patients screened (with anonymized data broken down by race, ethnicity, age, sex, location, disability, etc.).
- Effects on screening rates, early detection, and patient outcomes.
- Program improvement recommendations.
- Funding Authorization: $15,000,000 annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Part D of Title III of the Public Health Service Act (a key federal law governing public health programs) by adding a new Subpart XIII. It introduces a dedicated funding stream for mobile cancer screening units, which did not previously exist in this form, expanding HRSA's role in preventive cancer care beyond stationary facilities.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HRSA will manage grant distribution, prioritization, and reporting, potentially increasing its administrative workload but enhancing its focus on rural health equity.
- On Citizens: Residents in rural and underserved areas, particularly high-risk groups for cancers like lung cancer, will gain better access to early screenings, potentially leading to earlier detections, higher survival rates, and reduced healthcare disparities. Low screening rates (e.g., only 4.5% for lung cancer in 2022) could improve, benefiting an estimated 2 million annual cancer diagnoses.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic public health.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Healthcare Providers: Nonprofit hospitals, federally qualified health centers, academic centers, and health systems, which can apply for and operate the mobile units.
- Patients and Communities: Individuals in rural areas, underserved populations (including Native American communities), and high-risk groups for cancer, who will receive expanded screening services.
- Government Entities: HRSA (for implementation), the Department of Health and Human Services (oversight), and congressional committees (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in the Senate; Energy and Commerce in the House) for reporting and funding decisions.
- Nonprofits and Collaborations: Entities forming partnerships to apply for grants.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill aligns with existing federal authority under the Public Health Service Act to promote preventive health services. It includes standard safeguards like funding caps, matching requirements, and data privacy in reporting (e.g., de-identified patient data) to comply with health privacy laws like HIPAA.
- Constitutional: No significant challenges; it supports the federal government's role in public health under the Spending Clause, without infringing on states' rights, as participation is voluntary for eligible entities.
- Political: Introduced by bipartisan senators (Marshall and Reed), it emphasizes rural health access, potentially appealing across party lines amid ongoing debates on healthcare disparities. The five-year funding authorization provides stability but requires future congressional approval for extension, tying it to broader budget priorities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-09-29: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Mobile Cancer Screening Act — issued 2025-09-29 — PDF (6 pages)