The Chronic Care Policy Alliance (CCPA) recently submitted comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Advisory Committee in response to the Molecular and Clinical Genetics Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee Meeting Announcement.
For people managing chronic conditions, a cancer diagnosis brings additional challenges on top of existing medications, appointments and ongoing care. Finding cancer earlier could make a meaningful difference in how patients approach treatment, alongside the other health needs they are already managing.
Patients deserve the chance to treat cancer, not just manage it. There is a profound difference between finding cancer at an earlier stage and discovering it after symptoms appear and the disease has advanced. For many cancers, Stage IV is the most advanced stage, when treatment may focus on controlling the disease, prolonging life and maintaining quality of life.
That’s why Medicare beneficiaries deserve timely access to MCED technologies. Congress has already taken an important step by passing the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, establishing a pathway for Medicare coverage of MCED tests.
Now, it’s time for CMS to carry that momentum forward. As the FDA evaluates Galleri’s application, the administration should prioritize timely implementation of the new coverage pathway so Medicare beneficiaries can access qualifying MCED tests without unnecessary delays.
See CCPA’s full letter here.