Screen to Save Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
- Committees
- Ways and Means Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Aug 13, 2026
Bottom line
The 'Screen to Save Act' expands access to annual, no-cost screening mammography for women aged 30 and above across all major health insurance types, aiming to improve early detection of breast cancer.
What it actually does
This bill mandates no-cost coverage for annual screening mammography for women aged 30 and older across Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance plans. It amends the Social Security Act to expand Medicare and Medicaid benefits and eliminate cost-sharing for these services, and modifies the Public Health Service Act to require private plans to cover annual mammography without cost.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that expanding access to annual, no-cost mammography starting at age 30 will lead to earlier detection of breast cancer, improving treatment outcomes and saving lives. They emphasize that removing financial barriers and standardizing coverage across different insurance types will reduce health disparities and ensure more women receive critical preventive care.
Opponents contend
Opponents might raise concerns about the potential for increased healthcare costs across federal programs and private insurance, which could lead to higher premiums or taxpayer burdens. Some health policy experts also caution against the risks of over-screening, including false positives, unnecessary biopsies, and associated patient anxiety, without clear evidence of significant additional health benefits for all women starting at age 30.
The bill is short and clearly written, making it accessible for an informed reader to understand its provisions within a few minutes.
Section 2(a)
Expansion of Medicare Coverage for Annual Screening Mammography and Elimination of Cost-Sharing
This provision amends Section 1834(c) and 1833(a)(1) of the Social Security Act to expand Medicare Part B coverage for screening mammography. Beginning January 1, 2027, it allows for annual screening mammography for women over 29 years of age, removing the previous frequency limitations. Crucially, it mandates that Medicare will pay 100 percent of the cost for these services, eliminating any out-of-pocket expenses for beneficiaries.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that this provision will significantly improve health outcomes for older women by ensuring timely and affordable access to breast cancer screening. Eliminating cost-sharing removes a major barrier that often deters individuals from seeking preventive services, leading to earlier detection and more effective treatment of breast cancer.
Critics contend
Critics may contend that expanding Medicare coverage and eliminating cost-sharing for annual mammography for women over 29 will substantially increase federal spending. They might also argue that for certain age groups, annual screening may lead to over-diagnosis and false positives, increasing anxiety and unnecessary follow-up procedures, without a proportional benefit in mortality reduction.
Tradeoffs
The provision balances the public health goal of maximizing early cancer detection and reducing financial barriers against the fiscal implications of increased federal spending and the potential for over-screening and associated downstream costs.
Section 2(b)
Inclusion of Annual Screening Mammography in Medicaid and Enhanced Federal Matching
This section amends Section 1905(a)(13) and 1905(b)(5) of the Social Security Act to require state Medicaid programs to cover annual screening mammography for women over 29 years of age. It also increases the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for these services, meaning the federal government will cover a larger share of the costs incurred by states for providing this new mandatory benefit. These changes apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2027.
Section 2(c)
Mandate for Annual Screening Mammography Coverage in Private Health Plans
This section amends Section 2713(a) of the Public Health Service Act, which governs preventive health services under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It mandates that group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage must provide annual mammography screening for women over 29 years of age without cost-sharing. This requirement applies to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.