Marshall, Shaheen Secure Win to Protect, Enhance Access to Cervical Cancer Screenings

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) applauded the new cancer screening guidelines released today by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) that aligns with the Senators' request to preserve access to regular cancer screenings.

In February, Senators Marshall and Shaheen led a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra urging the agency to maintain access to cervical cancer screenings and preserve existing guidelines given data that shows rates increasing in women under 50 in recent years, particularly in rural and underserved communities. USPSTF recognized those same trends and chose to maintain existing guidelines, previously published in 2018, for both cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV).

"As an OB/GYN, the recent rise in cervical cancer among women under 50 is deeply troubling. What is behind this trend must be researched further, but what we can do right now is expand screening to catch cervical cancer earlier," Senator Marshall said. "I'm glad to see the HHS take our bipartisan recommendation seriously and increase these lifesaving screening services."

"The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force saw the same worrisome trends we did: women of color and those living in rural areas are disproportionately impacted by a lack of access to screening and therefore more likely to have undiagnosed, untreated cervical cancer. I'm glad the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force agreed with our assessment and acted in response to our request to protect access to life-saving cervical cancer screenings for women under 50," said Senator Shaheen.

Background:

Senator Marshall was an OB/GYN for over 25 years and has continued fighting for health screenings and access to care while in Congress.

• In October 2024, Senator Marshall introduced the bipartisan Find It Early Act with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to improve health insurance coverage of breast cancer preventative care. This bill would ensure all health insurance plans cover screening and diagnostic breast imaging, including mammograms, ultrasounds, MRIs, molecular imaging, and other technologies, with no cost-sharing.
• In September 2023, Senator Marshall and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), the chairman of the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, reached a deal to address the primary care crisis in America and the major shortages of nurses, primary care doctors and other important health care jobs across the country, and to increase critical funding for community health centers, the National Health Service Corps and Teaching Health Centers. The legislation passed the HELP Committee in September 2023.
• In July 2023, Senator Marshall introduced the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2023. This bipartisan legislation would support states in preserving maternal health throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum, addressing disparities in maternal health outcomes and finding solutions to enhance health care quality and outcomes for mothers.

In May 2021, Senator Marshall introduced the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act, legislation that would authorize new federal grant programs aimed at reducing maternal mortality by establishing evidence-based practices for training and improving coordinated care.