Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act accelerates federal disability and health coverage for people with metastatic breast cancer. It amends the Social Security Act SSDI eligibility provisions so applications filed after enactment are not subject to the usual waiting-period treatment, by adding metastatic breast cancer alongside amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It also amends Medicare eligibility so individuals with metastatic breast cancer do not have to wait 24 months after disability entitlement before Medicare coverage begins. The bill is targeted at a population with advanced cancer whose treatment costs and work limitations often arrive immediately rather than after a two-year Medicare delay.
Who Benefits and How
People with metastatic breast cancer benefit because SSDI cash benefits and Medicare coverage can begin without the standard waiting periods. Families of metastatic breast cancer patients benefit from faster income support and health coverage during advanced cancer treatment. Oncology practices benefit if more patients have Medicare coverage for chemotherapy, imaging, radiation, surgery, palliative care, and related services sooner. Cancer patient advocacy organizations benefit from a targeted statutory fix for a well-defined advanced disease group.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Social Security Administration must update disability benefit processing for covered metastatic breast cancer applications. CMS must enroll eligible metastatic breast cancer beneficiaries into Medicare without the 24-month disability waiting period. Federal disability and Medicare financing sources bear earlier benefit costs. Applicants must document qualifying metastatic breast cancer status to receive the accelerated treatment.
Key Provisions
- Amends SSDI rules to add metastatic breast cancer alongside ALS for waiting-period elimination.
- Provides the SSDI change for disability applications filed after enactment.
- Provides a waiver of the 24-month Medicare waiting period for individuals with metastatic breast cancer.
- Provides Medicare coverage changes for benefit months beginning after enactment.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Eliminates the Social Security Disability Insurance waiting period and waives the 24-month Medicare waiting period for individuals with metastatic breast cancer, paralleling existing ALS treatment.
Key Policy Areas
Social Security, Medicare, Cancer Care
Primary Purpose
Eliminates the Social Security Disability Insurance waiting period and waives the 24-month Medicare waiting period for individuals with metastatic breast cancer, paralleling existing ALS treatment.
Policy Domains
Resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- People with metastatic breast cancer
- Families of metastatic breast cancer patients
- Oncology practices
- Cancer patient advocacy organizations
Identified Costs
- Social Security Administration
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- Federal taxpayers
- Disability applicants
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMr. Garbarino (for himself, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr. Fitzpatrick, …
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Introduced in House
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Families of metastatic breast cancer patients, Oncology practices, People with metastatic breast cancer
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Social Security Administration
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology