This legislation establishes a program within the Public Health Service Act to expand access to crucial cancer screening services across the United States. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities. These awards are specifically for supporting new mobile cancer screening units , aiming to reach patients in rural and underserved areas where access to such services may be limited. Eligible entities include nonprofit hospitals, Federally qualified health centers, academic health centers, health systems, and consortia thereof. Funds can be utilized for purchasing commercial vehicles, acquiring imaging technology, securing digital tools, and covering essential startup or operational costs, with each award capped at $2,000,000 and requiring a 1:3 non-Federal match. The program prioritizes applicants demonstrating the highest potential impact on patient mortality and screening gaps, those serving underserved populations (including rural and Indian Health Service areas), and those providing comprehensive follow-up care within 90 minutes of the unit. The bill authorizes $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 and mandates a report to Congress within four years on the program's impact, including disaggregated patient data and recommendations.
This legislation establishes a program within the Public Health Service Act to expand access to crucial cancer screening services across the United States. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities. These awards are specifically for supporting new mobile cancer screening units , aiming to reach patients in rural and underserved areas where access to such services may be limited. Eligible entities include nonprofit hospitals, Federally qualified health centers, academic health centers, health systems, and consortia thereof. Funds can be utilized for purchasing commercial vehicles, acquiring imaging technology, securing digital tools, and covering essential startup or operational costs, with each award capped at $2,000,000 and requiring a 1:3 non-Federal match. The program prioritizes applicants demonstrating the highest potential impact on patient mortality and screening gaps, those serving underserved populations (including rural and Indian Health Service areas), and those providing comprehensive follow-up care within 90 minutes of the unit. The bill authorizes $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 and mandates a report to Congress within four years on the program's impact, including disaggregated patient data and recommendations.