Reducing Hereditary Cancer Act

This bill makes Medicare cover more care for people at high risk of hereditary cancer. It requires Medicare to pay for genetic testing for inherited (germline) cancer risks when someone has a blood relative with a known cancer gene mutation, or has a personal, family, or ancestral history that suggests hereditary cancer. The testing must follow evidence-based guidelines from major cancer groups; if guidelines conflict, Medicare uses the least restrictive standard so more people who need testing can get it.

If testing shows a hereditary cancer gene mutation, Medicare must also cover regular, evidence-based screenings more often—at least once a year—such as mammograms, breast MRIs, colonoscopies, PSA tests, and other recommended tests for high-risk people. The bill also makes Medicare cover certain risk‑reducing surgeries when trusted guidelines say surgery would lower the chance of developing cancer. These changes take effect for care provided on or after the day the bill becomes law .

Key points

• Who is affected: Medicare patients with a blood relative who has a hereditary cancer gene mutation, or with personal, family, or ancestral histories that suggest hereditary cancer; and people who test positive for a hereditary mutation.
• What changes: Medicare covers genetic testing that follows evidence-based guidelines (using the least restrictive guideline when there’s a conflict) ; covers risk‑reducing surgeries for those at high risk ; and increases how often covered screenings can happen—at least yearly for those with a hereditary mutation.
• When: Applies to testing, surgeries, and screenings provided on or after the date this becomes law .