(1) Each year, more than 1.4 million Americans 
receive a cancer diagnosis, and more than 11 million 
Americans are currently living with cancer. 
(2) Newly diagnosed cancer patients need ac-
cess to quality health care from the time of diag-
nosis to ensure the best possible outcome, and those 
entering the period of survivorship require active 
monitoring and follow-up care related to effects of 
cancer treatment and possible second cancers. 
(3) More than 47 million Americans have no 
health insurance, and this number includes many 
who will be diagnosed with cancer this year. 
(4) Among the non-elderly who receive a cancer 
diagnosis, more than 10 percent are uninsured, and 
among minority populations the percentage of unin-
sured cancer patients is higher. 
(5) Those with no insurance receive less cancer 
care and receive it later: they have lower rates of 
cancer screening, experience delays in follow-up after 
abnormal test results, and are diagnosed at a more 
advanced stage of disease. 
(6) Uninsured cancer patients receive less care 
than the insured, and they may face substantial 
medical expenses leading to bankruptcy. 
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(7) Young adults have worse cancer outcomes 
than young children or older adults; experts believe 
part of the discrepancy in cancer outcomes can be 
attributed to the fact this population is less likely to 
be insured than others. 
(8) The Medicare program is a source of med-
ical insurance for more than half of all cancer pa-
tients. 
(9) The Medicare program eliminates financial 
barriers to care for its beneficiaries and provides 
quality care to cancer patients. 
(10) Access to care, better cancer outcomes, 
and protection from devastating out-of-pocket med-
ical expenses could be assured to cancer patients by 
providing all diagnosed with cancer the opportunity 
to enroll in Medicare. 
SEC. 2. IMPROVING CANCER DATABASE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall collect such additional data as may 
be necessary to update existing databases that contain 
data regarding individuals with cancer in the United 
States in order to provide for accurate information of the 
number of such individuals, the types and stages of can-
cer, and the efficacy of different treatments for the types 
and stages of cancer. 
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(b) DATA.—The database under subsection (a) shall 
include information to monitor an individual’s full experi-
ence with cancer based upon the stage of the cancer, from 
the initial diagnosis to early and continued treatment until 
elimination of evidence of cancer or death. 
(c) INCREASED FUNDING.—There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the National Cancer Institute and the 
National Institutes of Health such additional funding as 
may be necessary to apply the information in the database 
for improved research and treatment of cancer, including 
providing physicians with timely information on outcomes 
to improve the treatment of cancer and to promote in-
creased quality care. 
SEC. 3. MEDICARE COVERAGE FOR UNINSURED CANCER 
PATIENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title II of the Social Security Act 
is amended by inserting after section 226A the following 
new section: 
‘‘SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO COVERAGE UNDER 
THE MEDICARE PROGRAM FOR CANCER FOR UNIN-
SURED, INITIAL CANCER PATIENTS 
‘‘SEC. 226B. (a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with 
the succeeding provisions of this section, every individual 
shall be entitled to benefits under part A, and eligible to 
enroll under parts B, C and D, of title XVIII, subject to 
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the deductible, premium and coinsurance provisions of 
such title if the individual— 
‘‘(1) is medically determined to have an initial cancer; 
‘‘(2) is lawfully residing in the United States; 
‘‘(3) has not attained the age of 65 but would other-
wise be entitled under section 226(a) to hospital benefits 
under part A of title XVIII; 
‘‘(4) is not covered by creditable coverage (as defined 
in subsection (e)); and 
‘‘(5) has filed an application for benefits under this 
section. 
‘‘(b) INITIATION AND DURATION OF BENEFITS.— 
The period of entitlement and eligibility described in sub-
section (a)— 
‘‘(1) shall begin on the first day of the first 
month following the date of the medical determina-
tion of cancer referred to in subsection (a)(1) (but 
no earlier than the month preceding the month of 
the filing of an application for benefits under this 
section); and 
‘‘(2) shall end on the date the individual be-
comes otherwise entitled to benefits under part A of 
title XVIII under section 226 or, if earlier, is cov-
ered under creditable coverage. 
‘‘(c) PROCEDURES.— 
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‘‘(1) The Secretary shall ensure that processes 
are established to prevent unnecessary delays in en-
rolling individuals with cancer under this section. In-
dividuals shall be enrolled on a timely basis upon the 
filing of an application described in subsection (a)(4) 
that includes evidence of an initial cancer diagnosis 
and an attestation that the individual satisfies the 
requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3) of sub-
section (a). 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall develop educational 
practices to help ensure that individuals enrolling 
under this section satisfy the criteria established 
under subsection (a) and shall implement post-en-
rollment procedures for identifying individuals who 
do not satisfy such criteria. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall implement procedures 
to ensure that the benefits available under this sec-
tion are not used as a substitute for health benefits 
that employers or individuals could otherwise pro-
vide, obtain, or maintain, and the Secretary shall re-
port to Congress by the end of each fiscal year on 
the effectiveness of such procedures. 
‘‘(d) CANCERS EXCLUDED.—In this section, the term 
‘cancer’ does not include basal cell carcinoma or squamous 
cell carcinoma of the skin. 
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‘‘(e) CREDITABLE COVERAGE DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘creditable coverage’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 2701(c) of the Public Health Service 
Act.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply to benefits for months beginning 
6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 4. ENCOURAGEMENT OF EARLY DETECTION OF CAN-
CER. 
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, 
through existing programs and other appropriate means, 
provide for such an educational and outreach campaign 
as will encourage individuals to be tested for cancer at 
the earliest time for which such testing may be useful in 
detecting the presence of cancer, based upon cancer 
screening recommendations of the United States Preven-
tive Services Task Force. 
Æ 
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