H.R. 8551

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8551 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

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.
<all>