Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2012

Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2012 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to waive coinsurance for colorectal cancer screening tests (thus covering 100% of their cost under Medicare part B [Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits for the Aged and Disabled]).

[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4120 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4120

 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to waive coinsurance 
  under Medicare for colorectal cancer screening tests, regardless of 
   whether therapeutic intervention is required during the screening.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 1, 2012

 Mr. Dent (for himself, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Mr. Payne) 
 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 title XVIII of the Social Security Act to waive coinsurance 
  under Medicare for colorectal cancer screening tests, regardless of 
   whether therapeutic intervention is required during the screening.

    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 ``Removing Barriers to Colorectal 
Cancer Screening Act of 2012''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer 
        death among men and women in the United States.
            (2) It is estimated that 143,460 new cases of colorectal 
        cancer are expected to occur in 2012.
            (3) More than 50,000 people in the United States are 
        expected to die from colorectal cancer in 2012.
            (4) It is estimated that if all precancerous polyps were 
        identified and removed before becoming cancerous, estimates 
        show the number of new colorectal cancer cases could be reduced 
        by 76 to 90 percent and deaths could be reduced by 70 to 90 
        percent.
            (5) Although colorectal cancer is largely preventable, one 
        in three adults between the ages of 50 and 75 are not up to 
        date with recommended colorectal cancer screening.
            (6) Two-thirds of colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed in 
        patients over the age of 65.
            (7) Colorectal cancer screening colonoscopy is a highly 
        effective preventive service, and removing financial barriers 
        can help to increase rates of screening.

SEC. 3. WAIVING MEDICARE COINSURANCE FOR COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING 
              TESTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 1833(a)(1)(Y) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)(Y)) is amended by inserting ``, including tests 
and procedures described in the last sentence of subsection (b),'' 
after ``section 1861(ddd)(3)''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply to items and services furnished after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.
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