Washington, D.C. – Representative Kevin Mullin (CA-15), led a bipartisan letter to the leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees asking for additional funding for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The letter, addressed to House Appropriations Chair Kay Granger, House Appropriations Committee and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, and House Appropriations Committee Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee Chair Robert Aderholt, points to the urgent need to get timely access to potentially life-saving health screenings.
The letter notes that “multiple California companies have developed blood-based screening tests for colorectal cancer (CRC), one of which is already under review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A blood test to detect early signs of CRC can overcome many of the access barriers associated with current CRC screening methods by incorporating screening into routine medical care. However, patients can only benefit from advances like this if the USPSTF has the capacity to review and recommend these screening tools in a timely manner.”
The USPSTF was created under President Reagan and is an independent, volunteer panel of national medical experts that issues evidence-based recommendations for cancer screenings and other preventive services that Americans should receive. If the USPSTF gives an A or B rating for a preventive service, individual and group health plans must cover the service at no cost to patients. These recommendations are critical drivers of patient access to screenings.
Funding for the USPSTF has remained static at about $11.5 million per year over the last decade. The letter requests a $6.5 million increase for FY24, noting that “…more than 75% of people who die from CRC today did not receive the recommended screening. This modest additional investment in USPSTF could have a significant impact toward achieving the goals of the Cancer Moonshot and would help ensure that no American is left unscreened because they lack access to medical innovation.”
“Cancer screenings are critical to early diagnosis and treatment for this deadly disease,” Mullin said. “I am proud to lead this bipartisan letter requesting additional funding for these critical efforts.”
The letter was also signed by Scott Peters (CA-50), Anna Eshoo (CA-16), Jay Obernolte (CA-23), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Katie Porter (CA-47), Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02).
The full letter can be found here.
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