[Page H52]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                       SUPPORT CANCER SCREENINGS

  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my colleagues for 
passing my important cancer screening bill as part of the critical 
healthcare bill.
  The Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act was added to 
the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, H.R. 3, right before 
it passed on December 12.
  My bill would allow Medicare to cover the costs when cancerous polyps 
are removed during colorectal cancer screenings. No longer will 
patients have to wake up to a surprise charge after their screening. 
These are charges that could cost from $400 to $20,000. It will improve 
the health and save the lives of millions of Americans.
  My father, former Congressman Donald Payne, Sr., died from colorectal 
cancer. I introduced this bill so that more fathers, brothers, and sons 
can survive this deadly cancer.

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