I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1017 

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to waive coinsurance under 

Medicare for colorectal cancer screening tests, regardless of whether 

therapeutic intervention is required during the screening. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 13, 2017 

Mr. DENT (for himself, Mr. PAYNE, and Mr. LANCE) introduced the following 

bill; which was 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 

A BILL 

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to waive 

coinsurance under Medicare for colorectal cancer screening tests, regardless of whether therapeutic intervention 

is required during the screening. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Removing Barriers to 

5 Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2017’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 


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•HR 1017 IH

1 (1) Colorectal cancer is the second leading 

2 cause of cancer death among men and women com3 bined in the United States. 

4 (2) In 2017, more than 135,000 Americans will 

5 be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and approxi6 mately 50,000 Americans will die from it. 

7 (3) Approximately 60 percent of colorectal can8 cer cases and 70 percent of deaths occur in those 

9 aged 65 and older. 

10 (4) Colorectal cancer screening colonoscopy al11 lows for the detection and removal of polyps, or ab12 normal growths, that could become cancerous, as 

13 well as for the early detection of colorectal cancer 

14 when treatment can be most effective. 

15 (5) Although colorectal cancer is largely pre16 ventable, one in three adults between the ages of 50 

17 and 75 are not up to date with recommended 

18 colorectal cancer screening. 

19 (6) Over 1,000 organizations have committed to 

20 eliminating colorectal cancer as a major public 

21 health problem and are working toward the shared 

22 goal of reaching 80 percent screened for colorectal 

23 cancer by 2018. 


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•HR 1017 IH

1 (7) Colorectal cancer screening colonoscopy is a 

2 highly effective preventive service, and removing fi3 nancial barriers can help to increase screening rates. 

4 SEC. 3. WAIVING MEDICARE COINSURANCE FOR COLOREC5 TAL CANCER SCREENING TESTS. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1833(a)(1)(Y) of the So7 cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)(Y)) is amended 

8 by inserting ‘‘, including a colorectal cancer screening test 

9 (regardless of the code that is billed for the establishment 

10 of a diagnosis as a result of the test, or for the removal 

11 of tissue or other procedure that is furnished in connection 

12 with, as a result of, and in the same clinical encounter 

13 as the screening test),’’ after ‘‘section 1861(ddd)(3)’’. 

14 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

15 this section shall apply to items and services furnished 

16 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

Æ 


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