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21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act

Introduced: March 26, 2009 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 26, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3906-3914)
Mar 26, 2009
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3905-3906)
Mar 26, 2009
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise provisions related to the National Cancer Program, including to require the establishment of an entity within the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to augment ongoing efforts to advance new technologies in cancer research, support the national collection of tissues for cancer research purposes, and ensure the quality of tissue collection.

Sets forth provisions governing clinical trials, including ethical and privacy standards.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants for research on cancers with a low five-year survival rate and rare cancers.

Expands coverage of colorectal screenings, including through providing grants and allowing states to provide coverage for such screenings under Medicaid.

Provides for biomarkers research.

Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to prohibit a group health plan from discriminating against participants and beneficiaries participating in cancer clinical trials.

Sets forth provisions regarding retirement pay for nurses retiring from the Armed Forces.

Requires the Secretary to study the current and future cancer care workforce needs.

Prohibits the Secretary from awarding patient navigator grants unless entities provide assurances that patient navigators meet minimum core proficiencies.

Provides for coverage under Medicare for payment of routine costs of care furnished to individuals participating in cancer clinical trials.

Requires the Secretary to conduct a demonstration project under which payment for comprehensive cancer care planning services will be made under Medicare.

Provides for coverage of tobacco cessation products.

Provides for research on cancer survivorship related to childhood cancer and health disparities in outcomes.

Requires the Secretary to convene a Workforce Development Collaborative on Psychosocial Care During Chronic Medical Illness.

What's happening now March 26, 2009

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3906-3914)

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 6
All 6 Democratic 5 Independent 1
D
Warner, Mark R.
Virginia · May 11, 2009
 D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · May 5, 2009
 D
Reed, Jack
Rhode Island · May 5, 2009
 D
Merkley, Jeff
Oregon · Apr 29, 2009
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Apr 29, 2009
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Apr 20, 2009
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 717: 21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-717/
MLA
"S. 717: 21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-717/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 717, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-717/.
Markdown link
[S. 717: 21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-717/)
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