SCREENS Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
- Committees
- Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Sep 24, 2026
Bottom line
The bill aims to standardize and digitize cancer screening recommendations, integrating them into healthcare technology to improve patient access and adherence to screenings, with a strong emphasis on privacy.
What it actually does
This bill mandates the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to establish and annually update a national computable-guideline framework for cancer screening recommendations, based on data from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). It requires certified health information technology (IT) to incorporate functionality to operationalize these recommendations within five years and encourages health plans to integrate this technology, all while upholding strict privacy protections.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that this bill will significantly improve public health by standardizing and increasing access to critical cancer screening recommendations, leveraging modern health IT to ensure more individuals receive timely screenings. This approach is expected to lead to earlier cancer detection, better treatment outcomes, and ultimately save lives, all while safeguarding patient privacy and empowering consumers with accessible health information.
Opponents contend
Potential opponents might raise concerns about the substantial administrative burden and cost of implementing these new IT requirements for federal agencies, healthcare providers, and health plans. They could also question the technical feasibility of establishing and annually updating a complex, machine-readable framework, or express apprehension about potential over-screening if recommendations are too broadly applied without sufficient clinical nuance.
The bill is concise and clearly written, making it accessible for a quick read and understanding of its core intent within a short timeframe.
Section 2(a), adding new Section 3009B(a) to the Public Health Service Act
Establishment of National Computable-Guideline Framework for Cancer Screening Recommendations
This provision directs the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to create a standardized, machine-readable framework for cancer screening recommendations within one year of the bill's enactment. This framework must be based on data and statistics, such as age, sex, and high-risk factors, established in the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The framework is also required to be updated annually.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this provision is foundational for modernizing cancer screening by creating a single, authoritative, and regularly updated digital source for recommendations, ensuring consistency and leveraging data for personalized guidance, which can lead to earlier detection and better outcomes.
Critics contend
Critics might express concern about the technical challenges and resource allocation required for ONC and consulting agencies to establish and annually update such a complex, data-driven framework, especially given potential disagreements among stakeholders on specific recommendations or the pace of scientific advancement.
Tradeoffs
This provision balances the need for a unified, evidence-based standard for cancer screening with the inherent complexity of integrating diverse data sources and stakeholder input, while also ensuring flexibility for necessary annual updates to reflect new medical knowledge.
Section 2(a), adding new Section 3009B(b) to the Public Health Service Act
Machine-Readable Screening Logic and Interoperability Requirements
This section mandates that the cancer screening recommendations within the newly established framework must be publicly available in machine-readable screening logic. This is intended to enable health information technology (HIT) to use these recommendations to create patient-focused tools, making screenings more accessible and consumer-centric. Furthermore, this machine-readable logic must be interoperable with either the Minimal Common Oncology Data Elements (mCODE) dataset or the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI).
Section 2(a), adding new Sections 3009B(c) and (d) to the Public Health Service Act
Privacy Protections for Framework Activities
These subsections explicitly require that all activities conducted pursuant to the establishment and operation of the computable-guideline framework comply with applicable privacy laws, including the regulations promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). It further clarifies that nothing in this Act permits the unauthorized use, disclosure, or re-identification of individually identifiable health information.
Section 2(b), amending Section 3001(c)(5) of the Public Health Service Act
Condition of Certification for Health Information Technology
Within five years of the bill's enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) must, through rulemaking, require that certified health information technology (HIT) include functionality to operationalize the cancer screening recommendations from the new national computable-guideline framework. This functionality must be able to determine an individual patient's status with respect to recommended cancer screenings, using only minimum necessary patient data (age, sex, high-risk factors), and provide patients with clear information and mechanisms to access/change their data.
Section 3
Guidance for Health Plans on Integrating Screening Recommendations
Within two years of enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) is required to issue guidance encouraging health plans, including Medicaid managed care organizations, Medicare Advantage plans, and qualified health plans offered through exchanges, to integrate technology that operationalizes the national computable-guideline framework for cancer screening recommendations. This guidance also encourages health plans to enable consumers to opt-into certified EHR technology that includes this new cancer screening functionality.
Section 4, amending Section 1181(d)(1) of the Social Security Act
PCORI Research, Pilot Projects, and Dissemination Efforts
This section amends the Social Security Act to expand the authorized activities of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). It allows PCORI to support research, pilot projects, implementation activities, and dissemination efforts aimed at advancing the use of interoperable health information technology to improve patient-centered outcomes, specifically through the translation of evidence-based preventive care recommendations into clinical practice. This includes developing, testing, and evaluating computable clinical guidelines, clinical decision support tools, and patient-facing decision aids for cancer screening.