Federal Reconciliation Budget Bill Update

The House of Representatives passed the FY25 budget reconciliation bill (the "One Big Beautiful Bill") on May 22nd by a thin margin (215-214). VBCF continues to be alarmed about provisions in the bill impacting Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act Marketplace (ACA) - programs which provide a critical lifeline for many Virginians facing breast cancer, supporting individuals from early screening through treatment and survivorship.

Among other policies, the bill includes work requirements and increased eligibility checks that create red tape and unnecessary administrative hurdles - extra burdens that no one managing the stress of a cancer diagnosis should have to face. Under the bill's current proposals, it is estimated that over 206,000 Virginians could lose their Medicaid/CHIP coverage, and an additional 40,000 could lose coverage due to the failure to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies.

What's next? Congress is back from the Memorial Day recess and the Senate is now working on the reconciliation bill with the goal of passing it by July 4th. Both of Virginia's Senators, Kaine and Warner, have expressed their opposition to the bill. VBCF will provide our Senators with resources about how this bill could negatively affect breast cancer patients, survivors, and thrivers in Virginia. To make our advocacy more impactful, we'd like to share personal stories. If you would be willing to share your experience about how Medicaid has helped you, please get in touch with Kirsta Millar at kirsta@vbcf.org

Federal Breast Cancer Legislation Update

In more encouraging news, VBCF's legislative priorities during NBCC Lobby Day, have made good progress.

• The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act H.R. 2048 already has 90 bipartisan co-sponsors, including two Virginia legislators, Rep. McClellan (VA-4th) and Rep. Subramanyam (VA-10th). This bill would eliminate the arbitrary waiting periods for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (5 months) and Medicare coverage (24 months) for those with metastatic breast cancer.

• The Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program: We are happy to report that 211 legislators signed on to the Congressional "Dear Colleague" letter in support of the $150 million in FY26 appropriations for the program, including 6 Virginia Representatives: Beyer, Connolly, Kiggans, McClellan, Scott, and Subramanyam. The Senate had 35 legislators sign on, but unfortunately, neither Senator Kaine or Warner was on the list.

Several bills related to breast cancer have also recently been introduced for the 119th Congress.

• SCREENS for Cancer Act H.R. 2381/ S.1866: Reauthorizes the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) for five years (FY2026-FY2030) at $235 million per year. The NBCCEDP provides free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services for women who are low-income, uninsured, and who do not qualify for Medicaid. The program is a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments. Virginia's free screening program, Every Woman's Life (EWL), is supported almost entirely by NBCCEDP funding.

Passage of the SCREENS Act is critical to the future of the NBCCEDP, and EWL. President Trump's proposed FY26 budget calls for the elimination of the CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, which funds cancer screening and prevention programs nationwide, including the NBCCEDP. VBCF will provide more information about advocating on behalf of the program soon. Stay tuned.

• Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act S. 1500: Prohibits health insurance plans from imposing cost-sharing requirements for diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations. This bill is essentially a national version of the bill Virginia passed during the 2025 General Assembly Session. As you may recall, the bill VBCF and its advocates helped pass only applies to health insurance plans regulated by the Commonwealth of Virginia. It does not apply to plans regulated by the federal government, including many plans offered by large employers in Virginia, hence the need for this bill at the national level.

• Find it Early Act S. 1410: This bill is similar to the ABCD Act. However, it requires that health insurance plans cover screening and diagnostic breast imaging with no out-of-pockets costs specifically for women with dense breasts or who are at higher risk for breast cancer. 

VBCF is working with our Virginia legislators to encourage their support on these bills. We will continue to send out Action Alerts when your advocacy is needed most. Please reach out if you have any questions.

THANK YOU!! For questions, contact Kirsta Millar

kirsta@vbcf.org or 804-285-1200 ext. 203.