Washington D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) celebrated House passage of H.R. 842, the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act . The legislation-led by Reps. Sewell and Jodey Arrington (TX-19)-was included in a package of Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills which passed the House today by a bipartisan vote of 341 to 88.

Watch Rep. Sewell's remarks on YouTube here.

"Today, the House took a major bipartisan step toward giving our seniors their best shot at catching cancer early," celebrated Rep. Sewell. "I am overjoyed that the House passed our bipartisan bill, the Nancy Gardner Sewell MCED Act. This critical milestone is years in the making, and was only made possible thanks to the efforts of amazing organizations, survivors, and patient advocates."

"I am especially grateful to Congressman Arrington for his close partnership and for naming the bill after my mother, the late Nancy Gardner Sewell," continued Sewell. "I know that she would be immensely proud of the work we are doing to provide greater access early detection cancer screenings. Her legacy will live on in the millions of Americans whose lives will be changed this legislation."

Thanks to cutting-edge scientific advancements, new MCED screenings are emerging which hold the potential to detect dozens of forms of cancer with a simple blood test. Currently, 70% of cancer deaths occur in cancers with no screening. Under current law, it could take more than a decade before Medicare has the authority to cover these screenings once they are FDA approved. The Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare MCED Screening Coverage Act would create a pathway for Medicare to cover MCED screenings once they are FDA approved.

Specifically, this legislation would:

• Create the authority for CMS to cover blood-based MCED tests and future test methods once approved by the FDA and shown to have clinical benefit.
• Maintain CMS' authority to use an evidence-based process to determine coverage parameters for these new tests.
• Clarify that (1) these new tools will complement, not replace, existing screenings and coverage and (2) cost sharing will not be impacted.

In the 118th Congress, the bill's lead Republican sponsor, Rep. Jodey Arrington, surprised Rep. Sewell by naming it after her mother, the late Nancy Gardner Sewell, who lost her battle to pancreatic cancer in June 2021. Prior to its passage, the Nancy Gardner Sewell MCED Screening Coverage Act was the most co-sponsored bill in the 119th Congress, with 339 House co-sponsors and 68 Senate co-sponsors.

Major health organizations also celebrated its passage in the House:

"We are thrilled for final passage in the House of the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act in the package," said Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). "This wouldn't have been possible without the bipartisan leadership of Representative Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Representative Jodey Arrington (R-TX) as well as Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Mike Bennet (D-CO). ACS CAN strongly urges the Senate to pass this package which brings us one step closer to ending cancer as we know it, for everyone."

"Pancreatic cancer remains the deadliest major cancer and the only one with a five-year survival rate below 20%. Because symptoms are often vague and mimic other conditions, most patients are diagnosed in the later stages, when tumors are inoperable and treatment options are limited. Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) blood tests will enable earlier detection when the disease is more treatable, but these tests must be accessible and affordable to change patient outcomes," said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, PanCAN President and Chief Executive Officer. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network applauds Congress for including the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act (H.R. 842) in the bicameral, bipartisan minibus appropriations package. Passage in the House is an encouraging step, and we look forward to final passage in the Senate."

"Today marks a historic milestone in cancer prevention and early detection," said Jody Hoyos, CEO of the Prevent Cancer Foundation. "With the passage of this legislation, groundbreaking multi-cancer early detection tests have a path forward to reach older Americans, bringing lifesaving innovation to those who need it most. This achievement reflects unprecedented, bipartisan collaboration and the dedication of hundreds of organizations working together to ensure that early detection saves lives and reduces long-standing health inequities. We celebrate this moment and move closer to a future where cancer is preventable, detectable and beatable for all."

"For the thousands of women and families we serve, early detection isn't just a medical goal-it's a lifeline," said Bethany Black, Executive Director of the Laura Crandall Brown Foundation in Alabama. "The Laura Crandall Brown Foundation wants to extend its deepest thanks to Congresswoman Sewell for her leadership and tireless effort on the MCED bill in Washington. Her advocacy helps bridge the gap between innovative science and the patients who need it most."

The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate where Rep. Sewell urged its quick consideration and passage.

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