H.R. 8551

119 HR 8551 IH: Early Access to Screening Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-04-28
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 8551  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.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Early Access to Screening Act  .
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.