,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #hib ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #ba1 #bjbc,mr4 ,heinrich introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,finance ,a ,,bill ,to amend title ,,xviii of the ,social ,security ,act to provide coverage under the ,medicare program for ,,fda-approved qualifying colorectal cancer screening blood-based tests1 to increase participation in colorectal cancer screening in under-screened communities of color1 to offset the ,,covid-#ai pandemic driven declines in colorectal cancer screening1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,colorectal ,cancer ,detection ,act4 #b4 ,medicare coverage for ,,fda-approved qualifying colorectal cancer screening blood-based tests 7a7 ,in general ,section #ahfa7pp7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7pp77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,d7 as subparagraph 7,e72 and 7,b7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,c7 the following new subparagraph3 7,d7 ,qualifying colorectal cancer screening blood-based test4 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#c7 ,the term qualifying colorectal cancer screening blood-based test means a screening blood-based test for the early detection of colorectal cancer that is marketed or used1 as applicable1 in accordance with the relevant provisions of section #cec of the ,public ,health ,service ,act or the ,federal ,food1 ,drug1 and ,cosmetic ,act4 4 7b7 ,frequency limits for colorectal cancer screening tests and payment amount for qualifying colorectal cancer screening blood-,based tests ,section #ahcd7;d7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciem7d77 is amended-- 7#a7 by amending clause 7ii7 of paragraph 7#a77;,b7 to read as follows3 7ii7 if the test is performed within the #aa months after a previous screening fecal-occult blood test or a previous qualifying colorectal cancer screening blood-based test4 2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b77;,e77ii71 by inserting or within the #ce months after a previous screening fecal-occult blood test or previous qualifying colorectal cancer screening blood-based test after sigmoidoscopy2 7#c7 by amending subparagraph 7,e7 of paragraph 7#c7 to read as follows3 7,e7 ,frequency limit ,no payment may be made under this part for a colorectal cancer screening test consisting of a screening colonoscopy-- 7i7 if the procedure is performed within the #aa months after a previous screening fecal-occult blood test or previous qualifying colorectal cancer screening blood-based test2 7ii7 for individuals at high risk for colorectal cancer if the procedure is performed within the #bc months after a previous screening colonoscopy2 or 7iii7 for individuals not at high risk for colorectal cancer if the procedure is performed within the #aai months after a previous screening colonoscopy or within the #dg months after a previous screening flexible sigmoidoscopy4 2 and 7#d7 by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#d7 ,qualifying colorectal cancer screening blood-based tests 7,a7 ,payment amount ,the payment amount for colorectal cancer screening tests consisting of qualifying colorectal cancer screening blood-based tests shall be established by the ,secretary in accordance with section #ahcc7;h7 and section #ahcd;,a1 as applicable4 7,b7 ,frequency limit ,paragraph 7#a77;,b7 shall apply to colorectal cancer screening tests consisting of qualifying colorectal cancer screening blood-based tests in the same manner as such paragraph applies to colorectal cancer screening tests consisting of fecal-occult blood tests4 4 7c7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by this section shall apply to colorectal cancer screening tests furnished in a year beginning more than #f months after the date of the enactment of this ,act4