Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act

This bill would require Medicaid, Medicare, and private health insurance plans to cover annual lung cancer screenings without prior authorization for individuals meeting federal preventive guidelines. It proposes expanding Medicaid coverage for tobacco cessation counseling and medication to all individuals and would include treatments for vaping and e-cigarette use. Additionally, the bill would mandate a federal outreach campaign on lung cancer screenings and a government report on lung cancer demographics and screening improvements.

This bill affects individuals eligible for lung cancer screenings under U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines, as well as Medicaid recipients seeking tobacco cessation counseling and pharmacotherapy, including for vape and e-cigarette use. It also impacts public and private health insurance providers, including Medicare and Medicaid programs, by prohibiting prior authorization requirements for these screenings. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Government Accountability Office are tasked with conducting outreach and reporting on lung cancer demographics and screening improvements.

• Prohibition of prior authorization for lung cancer screenings. Requires Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance plans to cover annual lung cancer screenings without prior authorization for individuals meeting U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines.
• Expansion of Medicaid tobacco cessation coverage. Extends Medicaid coverage for tobacco cessation counseling and pharmacotherapy to all individuals, expanding beyond the current limitation to pregnant women.
• Inclusion of vaping and e-cigarettes in cessation services. Broadens the scope of covered tobacco cessation services to include treatments specifically for the use of vapes and e-cigarettes.
• Public health outreach and federal reporting. Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct outreach regarding screening importance and requires the Government Accountability Office to report on lung cancer demographics and screening improvements.

The bill modifies coverage requirements for Medicaid, Medicare, and private health insurance to align with U.S. Preventive Services Task Force lung cancer screening guidelines. It also expands existing Medicaid coverage for tobacco cessation services, which currently applies only to pregnant women, to include all individuals and cover the use of vapes and e-cigarettes.

The bill aims to increase the utilization of lung cancer screenings and tobacco cessation services by removing prior authorization requirements for eligible individuals and expanding insurance coverage for cessation counseling and treatments. It also seeks to enhance public awareness through outreach initiatives and identify federal strategies to improve screening rates among diverse demographic groups.