Rep. Payne, Jr. Wants Immediate Medicare Support for Colorectal Cancer Surgeries

December 3, 2020, 4:12 pm | in

Rep. Payne, Jr. Wants Immediate Medicare Support for Colorectal Cancer Surgeries

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. wants to add colorectal cancer surgeries to the list of services covered under Medicare before the new year. If successful, the move could increase the number of Americans who get screened for the disease and save thousands of lives. Colorectal cancer is second only to lung cancer in U.S. cancers deaths every year.

The Congressman wrote a letter to House and Senate leadership today to add his bill, the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act (H.R. 1570), to any end-of-the-year legislative package. The bill would allow Medicare to cover cancer surgeries as well as screenings for patients at risk for colorectal cancer. It is one of the most popular bills in Congress with 342 co-sponsors.

“It has been my mission to prevent colorectal cancer deaths since I lost my father, Congressman Donald M. Payne, Sr., to the deadly disease,” said Congressman Payne, Jr. “My bill would give doctors more freedom to treat and remove cancerous growths when they find them and improve the health and safety of millions of Americans at risk for colorectal cancer. I hope it is added to legislation and passed soon, so we can begin to save American lives immediately.”

Currently, Medicare covers colorectal cancer screenings, but not surgeries. If doctors find and remove cancerous growths during a screening, patients could end up paying thousands of dollars for the removal. Rep. Payne, Jr.’s bill would allow Medicare to cover the screenings and the surgeries so patients can avoid that surprise medical charge. Rep. Payne, Jr. co-wrote the letter with Rep. Donald McEachin (D-VA) and it has 26 additional Congressional co-signers.

“I am committed to removing barriers to colorectal cancer screenings because I know firsthand how important it is to catch this cancer before it progresses –– a routine colonoscopy saved my life, said Rep. McEachin. “Too frequently, however, many lack access to these early detection screenings, resulting in fewer treatment options and higher mortality rates in communities of color and low-income communities. Passing the bipartisan Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act would close the existing Medicare loophole, reducing potential surprise medical bills and immediately removing one more unnecessary barrier to receiving a life-saving, preventative treatment for this insidious disease.”

The letter is added below.

####

December 3, 2020

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Speaker Majority Leader

U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate

H-232, U.S. Capitol S-230, U.S. Capitol

Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy The Honorable Charles E. Schumer

Minority Leader Minority Leader

U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate

H-204, U.S. Capitol S-221, U.S. Capitol

Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell, and Leader Schumer:

As we approach the end of the year, we strongly urge you to include H.R. 1570, the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act, in an end-of-year legislative package. As members of the Congressional Black Caucus, we understand how important this bill is to reducing the significant rise in colorectal cancer incidence and its disproportionate impact on minority populations, especially the African American community.

Colorectal cancer is a horrible disease that has taken too many loved ones before their time, including the late Congressman Donald Payne Sr. and more recently, actor Chadwick Boseman in August of this year. According to the American Cancer Society, African Americans are disproportionately affected by the disease, being approximately 20 percent more likely to get colorectal cancer and about 40 percent more likely to die from it than most other groups.

With 342 cosponsors and 35 groups in support, the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act would close a Medicare loophole that can result in Medicare beneficiaries waking up to a surprise bill when polyps are removed during a routine colonoscopy. Closing the loophole would remove the potential for surprise bills, encourage preventive treatment for colorectal cancer, and save lives.

Again, we respectfully urge you to include the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act in an end-of-year legislative package. Thank you in advance for your consideration of our request.

Sincerely,

Donald M. Payne, Jr. A. Donald McEachin