I 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1070 

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 

MARCH 12, 2013 

Mr. DENT (for himself, Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. FITZPATRICK, and Mr. PAYNE) 

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 2013’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 Congress finds the following: 

3 (1) Colorectal cancer is the second leading 

4 cause of cancer death among men and women in the 

5 United States, killing more non-smokers than any 

6 other cancer. 

7 (2) Every year, more than 140,000 Americans 

8 are diagnosed with colorectal cancer and more than 

9 50,000 Americans will die from it. 

10 (3) 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 (4) If all precancerous polyps were identified 

16 and removed before becoming cancerous, estimates 

17 show the number of new colorectal cancer cases 

18 could be reduced by 76 to 90 percent and deaths 

19 could be reduced by 70 to 90 percent. 

20 (5) Although colorectal cancer is largely pre21 ventable, one in three adults between the ages of 50 

22 and 75 are not up to date with recommended 

23 colorectal cancer screening. 

24 (6) Two-thirds of colorectal cancer cases are di25 agnosed in patients over the age of 65. 


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1 (7) Colorectal cancer screening colonoscopy is a 

2 highly effective preventive service, and removing fi3 nancial barriers can help to increase rates of screen4 ing. 

5 SEC. 3. WAIVING MEDICARE COINSURANCE FOR 

6 COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING TESTS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1833(a)(1)(Y) of the So8 cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)(Y)) is amended 

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

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

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

12 of tissue or other procedure that is furnished in connection 

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

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

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

16 subsection (a) shall apply to items and services furnished 

17 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

Æ 


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