Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act (S. 4566)

• •Requires state Medicaid plans to cover annual lung cancer screenings for eligible individuals based on U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines.
• •Prohibits cost-sharing (co-pays or deductibles) for lung cancer screenings under Medicaid.
• •Eliminates prior authorization requirements for lung cancer screenings.
• •Expands Medicaid coverage for tobacco cessation counseling and pharmacotherapy to all enrollees, removing the previous limitation to pregnant women.
• •Includes e-cigarettes and vape pens in the definition of tobacco use for cessation services.
• •Prohibits cost-sharing for tobacco cessation services.
• •Eliminates prior authorization requirements for tobacco cessation services.
• •Mandates that Medicaid Managed Care Organizations include these screenings and cessation services in their coverage contracts.
• •Sets an effective date of January 1, 2028, for these changes.
• •Provides an exception for states that require new legislation to update their Medicaid plans, allowing them to delay implementation until after their next regular legislative session.

If passed, this bill would mandate that state Medicaid programs cover annual lung cancer screenings and tobacco cessation counseling and medication for all enrollees at no out-of-pocket cost, starting January 1, 2028.

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.