Sponsors (8)
The bill promotes increased lung cancer screening, targeted research, and federal transparency—potentially improving outcomes (especially for women and under-recognized groups)—but will consume federal resources, may raise short-term healthcare costs, and may require further legislation/funding to realize its full benefits.
People in USPSTF-recommended risk groups will likely see increased public education and new screening strategies that raise lung cancer screening uptake.
Women and people with few known risk factors will have federal programs reviewed and updated to target research gaps, which could improve early detection and outcomes for these under-recognized groups.
May spur interagency and multidisciplinary research (including environmental, genomic, and biomarker studies) that advances diagnosis and treatment over the medium to long term.
Expanding screening and outreach could increase short-term follow-up testing and treatment, raising healthcare costs for patients and health systems.
The mandated review and report will require federal staff time and resources, potentially diverting funds from other programs if no new appropriations are provided.
Recommendations that identify statutory or funding barriers may not produce immediate change because implementing them could require additional legislation or appropriations, delaying benefits to patients.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires HHS (with DoD and VA consultation) to review federal lung cancer research, screening, and prevention programs focused on women and report findings and recommendations to Congress within two years.
Directs HHS, with consultation from the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, to review federal programs, activities, and plans related to lung cancer research, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to identify gaps and improve outcomes for women and other groups with few known risk factors. The agency must examine research needs (including environmental, genomic, biomarker testing, and multidisciplinary opportunities), screening and education strategies, and then report findings, actions taken, and recommendations to relevant congressional committees within two years.
Official title: Direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a review to evaluate the status of research on lung cancer in women and underserved populations, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 26, 2025 by Tina Smith · Last progress June 9, 2026