HouseH.R. 8551119th Congress
Early Access to Screening Act
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8551 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8551
To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act and title
XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to provide no-cost coverage for
annual screening mammography beginning at 30 years of age.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 28, 2026
Mr. Lawler introduced the following bill; which was 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act and title
XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to provide no-cost coverage for
annual screening mammography beginning at 30 years of age.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Early Access to Screening Act''.
SEC. 2. NO-COST COVERAGE OF ANNUAL SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY BEGINNING AT
30 YEARS OF AGE.
(a) Coverage Under Medicare.--
(1) In general.--Section 1834(c) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1395m(c)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ``or (3)''
after ``paragraph (2)'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking the paragraph heading and
inserting ``Frequency covered before january 1,
2026''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``Subject'' and inserting ``With respect to
screening mammography performed before January
1, 2026, subject''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(3) Frequency covered on or after january 1, 2026.--With
respect to screening mammography performed on or after January
1, 2026--
``(A) no payment may be made under this part for
screening mammography performed on a woman under 30
years of age; and
``(B) in the case of a woman over 29 years of age,
payment may not be made under this part for screening
mammography performed within 11 months following the
month in which a previous screening mammography was
performed.''.
(2) Prohibition of cost sharing.--Section 1833(a)(1) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (Y), by inserting ``(other than
screening mammography (as defined in section 1861(jj))
performed on or after January 1, 2026)'' after ``in the
case of such services described in subparagraph (A)'';
(B) in subparagraph (GG), by striking ``and'' at
the end; and
(C) by inserting ``, and (II) with respect to
screening mammography (as defined in section 1861(jj))
performed on or after January 1, 2026, the amounts paid
shall be shall be 100 percent of the lesser of the
actual charge for the services or the amount determined
under the fee schedule that applies to such services
under this part'' before the semicolon at the end.
(3) Conforming amendment.--Section 1862(a)(1)(F) is amended
by striking ``section 1834(c)(2)'' and inserting ``section
1834(c)''.
(b) Coverage Under Medicaid.--
(1) Mandatory coverage.--
(A) In general.--Section 1902(a)(10)(A) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)) is
amended by inserting ``(13)(D),'' before ``(17),''.
(B) Medically needy.--Section 1902(a)(10)(C)(iv) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(C)(iv))
is amended by inserting ``(13)(D),'' before ``and
(17)''.
(C) Alternative benefit plans.--Section 1937(b) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396u-7(b)) is
amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(9) Annual screening mammography.--Notwithstanding the
previous provisions of this section, a State may not provide
for medical assistance through enrollment of an individual with
benchmark coverage or benchmark-equivalent coverage under this
section unless, beginning on January 1, 2026, for any
individual over age 29, such coverage includes (and does not
impose any deduction, cost sharing, or similar charge for)
annual screening mammography described in section
1905(a)(13)(D).''.
(2) Inclusion under diagnostic, screening, preventive, and
rehabilitative services.--Section 1905(a)(13) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)(13)) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (C), by adding ``and'' at the
end; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(D) beginning January 1, 2026, for individuals
over age 29, annual screening mammography;''.
(3) Prohibition of cost sharing.--
(A) In general.--Section 1916 of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396o) is amended--
(i) in subsection (a)(2)--
(I) in subparagraph (I), by
striking ``or'' at the end;
(II) in subparagraph (J), by
striking ``; and'' at the end and
inserting ``, or''; and
(III) by adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
``(K) beginning January 1, 2026, annual screening
mammography described in section 1905(a)(13)(D); and'';
and
(ii) in subsection (b)(2)--
(I) in subparagraph (I), by
striking ``or'' at the end;
(II) in subparagraph (J), by
striking ``; and'' at the end and
inserting ``, or''; and
(III) by adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
``(K) beginning January 1, 2026, annual screening
mammography described in section 1905(a)(13)(D); and''.
(B) Application to alternative cost sharing.--
Section 1916A(b)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1396o-1(b)(3)(B)) is amended by adding at the
end the following new clause:
``(xv) Beginning January 1, 2026, annual
screening mammography described in section
1905(a)(13)(D).''.
(c) Coverage Under Group Health Plans and Group and Individual
Health Insurance.--
(1) In general.--Section 2713(a) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg-13(a)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking at the end
``and'';
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking at the end the
period and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) in paragraph (4)--
(i) by striking at the end the period and
inserting ``; and'';
(ii) by striking ``women, such'' and
inserting ``women--
``(A) such''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
``(B) in the case of a woman over 29 years of age,
annual mammography screening.''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection
shall apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1,
2026.
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