Mobile Lung Cancer Screening Bill Reintroduced to Improve Access and Early Detection
Amid mounting concern over lung cancer’s deadly toll, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has reintroduced legislation aimed at expanding access to early detection through mobile screening units.
U.S. Reps. Raul Ruiz, MD (D-Calif.), Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) unveiled the Mobile Cancer Screening Act (H.R. 4417) on Tuesday. The bill, backed by key medical organizations including the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, proposes federal grants to help providers purchase mobile CT units capable of conducting low-dose lung cancer scans.
“Early cancer detection saves lives, but it doesn’t help if patients can’t get to a screening location,” said Rep. Ruiz on July 15. “This is about bringing health equity to communities that have been left behind. The Mobile Cancer Screening Act can change that.”
The bill isn’t entirely new. Lawmakers introduced a similar version in 2024, but it failed to pass. That earlier proposal offered up to $2 million in grants per applicant to fund mobile vehicles, CT equipment, and necessary software. Under the current proposal, the Health Resources and Services Administration would oversee the grant program.
The renewed push comes as healthcare leaders amplify calls for more robust screening efforts. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., yet screening rates among at-risk populations remain low—particularly in rural and underserved areas. Proponents believe mobile units can play a pivotal role in reaching these communities.
“Lifesaving imaging technologies cannot save lives if they are not available in our communities,” said ACR CEO Dana H. Smetherman, MD, MPH, MBA, in a July 25 statement. “This bill is an important step toward ensuring and expanding access to modern screening exams, helping us catch more cancers early, and giving more people the chance to live longer, healthier lives.”
Beyond legislative efforts, radiologists are also calling for a national campaign to promote awareness. In a letter sent July 14 to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., the ACR urged the launch of a public health initiative highlighting the proven benefits of low-dose CT lung cancer screening.
Supporters stress that expanding mobile screening access could be a turning point in closing gaps in cancer care and improving survival rates—particularly for those who face the highest barriers to preventive services.