Congress mandates free heart-disease screening for millions—but leaves uninsured behind

What it does

This bill requires Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance plans to cover two specific blood tests—lipoprotein (Lp(a)) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB)—without cost-sharing (copays, deductibles) for people at risk of cardiovascular disease, including those with family history, prior heart attack or stroke, diabetes, obesity, or elevated cholesterol. The tests would be available at no out-of-pocket cost to eligible patients starting 180 days after enactment.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core function is to mandate insurance coverage of two specific cardiovascular diagnostic tests without cost-sharing for at-risk populations. It is a public-health-oriented insurance regulation, not a tax measure, subsidy, or commemorative act.

What the text implies

• Lp(a) and ApoB testing are not yet standard-of-care in many clinical settings; mandating coverage may drive rapid adoption and create demand for lab capacity and physician training in interpreting these markers.
• The bill defines eligibility broadly ('other recognized cardiovascular risk factors'), leaving room for clinical interpretation and potential variation in coverage across states and insurers.
• Medicaid benchmark plans must comply, which may increase state costs and potentially trigger budget pressures in states with tight Medicaid budgets.
• No cost-sharing mandate may increase utilization of these tests beyond clinical need if patients perceive them as 'free,' potentially raising overall healthcare spending.

Who it affects

Ordinary people at cardiovascular risk gain access to potentially life-saving diagnostic tests without financial barriers, removing a cost obstacle to early detection. The bill expands preventive care coverage broadly across public and private insurance, benefiting millions of at-risk Americans by enabling earlier intervention and potentially reducing mortality.

Who stands to gain

• clinical laboratory companies (Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp, Sonic Healthcare)
• diagnostic test manufacturers (Roche, Abbott, Siemens Healthineers)
• cardiology practices and primary care providers
• health insurance companies (through potential long-term cost savings from early detection)

Named in the bill

Medicare, Medicaid, Public Health Service Act, Social Security Act, lipoprotein (Lp(a)), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), group health plans, individual health insurance, cardiovascular disease, Section 2713, Section 1861, Section 1833 — and 3 more

Where it stands

• Apr 14, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Apr 14, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means and House Committee on Energy and Commerce · Congress.gov: “Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a…”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

2 lobbying clients named this bill on 2 disclosure filings across 1 quarter, Jun 2026 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $3,260,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 10 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 41% of bills with at least one filing.

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, the sponsor, reported $86,000 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• Altria Client Services LLC — $3,200,000 on 1 filing
• The Mended Hearts, Inc. — $60,000 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.