Medicare eliminates patient costs for colorectal cancer screening
H.R. 5671 — Colorectal Cancer Payment Fairness Act · Filed by Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Sep 30, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill amends Medicare law to eliminate the coinsurance (patient cost-sharing) requirement for colorectal cancer screening tests. Currently, Medicare covers these screenings but requires patients to pay a percentage of the cost; this bill makes them fully covered at no out-of-pocket expense to beneficiaries, effective immediately and permanently (removing the prior sunset date of January 1, 2030).
Why we flagged it
The bill directly expands Medicare coverage for a preventive health service by eliminating patient cost-sharing. It is a straightforward public-health measure that reduces financial barriers to early cancer detection.
What the text implies
- Removal of the 2030 sunset date makes this a permanent entitlement expansion, increasing long-term Medicare spending without a specified offset or funding mechanism.
- Full coverage (100%) may increase screening volume and associated procedural costs (colonoscopies, follow-up biopsies) beyond current projections, with fiscal impact dependent on uptake rates.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Medicare beneficiaries (seniors 65+); gastroenterology practices and ambulatory surgery centers performing colorectal cancer screening