ACR News - Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) recently introduced legislation intended to bolster funding for breast cancer research and encourage breast and colorectal cancer screening in the Medicare population.

S. 1109, the Breast Cancer Research and Screening Act of 2007, would authorize $214 billion to the National Institutes of Health for fiscal year 2008 for the purpose of carrying out breast cancer research. The legislation also seeks to eliminate the 20 percent Medicare beneficiary copayment for screening mammography and colorectal cancer screening.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee; further legislative action has yet to be taken. The ACR Government Relations staff will track this bill as it moves through the legislative process.