Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act

House Bill

H.R. 6178

119th Congress

Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act

In Committee

Introduced:Nov 20, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Kathy Castor

D - FL

Cosponsors

5

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Health

Summary

Requires Medicaid to cover annual lung cancer screening without cost sharing or prior authorization for individuals who meet US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines. Also expands Medicaid tobacco cessation coverage from only pregnant women to all beneficiaries. Applies similar requirements to Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. Effective January 1, 2026.

Latest Action

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.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

Requires Medicaid to cover annual lung cancer screening without cost sharing or prior authorization for individuals who meet US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines. Also expands Medicaid tobacco cessation coverage from only pregnant women to all beneficiaries. Applies similar requirements to Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. Effective January 1, 2026.

Last updated: 12/27/2025

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Mandatory Medicaid coverage of lung cancer screening per USPSTF guidelines
No cost sharing or prior authorization allowed for screening
Expands tobacco cessation coverage to all Medicaid beneficiaries
Requires Medicare/Medicare Advantage to provide screening without prior auth
Managed care organizations must comply
Bipartisan House bill from Castor (D-FL), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Benefits approximately 90 million Medicaid beneficiaries who would gain access to lung cancer screening. Early detection significantly improves survival rates for lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death. Tobacco cessation expansion helps reduce smoking-related illnesses across the Medicaid population.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Health

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

6178, 119th Congress (2025). "Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-hr-6178