Pennsylvania has enacted House Bill 1123, expanding insurance coverage for colorectal cancer screening in line with the latest American Cancer Society (ACS) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. The law will eliminate cost-sharing for screening-eligible individuals covered by state-regulated health plans and Medicaid, potentially expanding no-cost access to screening for approximately 2 million Pennsylvanians. It takes effect December 21, 2026.
The legislation is expected to improve access to noninvasive screening options, including Guardant Health’s Shield blood-based CRC test. Shield detects cancer-associated alterations in cell-free DNA and is intended for average-risk adults aged 45 and older. A positive result requires follow-up colonoscopy. Guardant says the test has been included in ACS and NCCN screening guidelines, making it the first blood-based CRC screening test to achieve this inclusion.