This is a guest opinion column

Diagnosis with pancreatic cancer is too often devastating news. It is rarely delivered in the earlier stages of the disease and therefore the treatment is far more difficult. This is because there are often no symptoms until it has spread, making detection incredibly difficult. I know the toll this diagnosis can carry – just as Congresswoman Terri Sewell does. I lost my wife to pancreatic cancer eight years ago. Rep. Sewell’s recently introduced legislation, the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, is named after the Congresswoman’s late mother who also passed away after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. This legislation will help to change the way we screen for cancers, helping to give seniors timely access to multi-cancer early detection tests when they are approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Losing my wife galvanized me to become involved with Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) in Alabama, an organization dedicated to fighting pancreatic cancer through research, patient support, and advocacy. Through my personal experience and my work with PanCAN, I know how important it is to catch cancer early, and how – until very recently – we have been so far behind in our ability to do so.

Only five types of cancer screenings are broadly available and typically covered by insurers – none are for pancreatic cancer. But innovative technologies known as multi-cancer early detection tests have the potential to dramatically change this dynamic. These tests have shown great promise in detecting dozens of cancers, including pancreatic, by looking for cancer signals in a patient’s blood sample.

The FDA is currently reviewing these tests. But without action from Congress, it could be up to a decade or longer before the Medicare program can cover them. That’s because Medicare doesn’t have the authority to cover preventive screenings like it does for new drug therapies or medical devices. Millions of seniors could miss out on these potentially life-saving cancer screenings during this lag.

Thankfully, Congresswoman Sewell is leading the charge in Congress to enact change and ensure that Medicare is able to cover these tests once the FDA gives them the green light.

As someone who has spent her career fighting for healthcare equity, Congresswoman Sewell understands that timely access to care can be the literal difference between life or death. Throughout her career, she has been a champion for healthcare reform and has worked tirelessly to ensure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable healthcare. Congresswoman Sewell’s bill is just one example of her commitment to improving healthcare outcomes for all.

Earlier in my career, I worked as a healthcare benefits navigator at a federally qualified health center where I walked patients through the American healthcare system, which can be incredibly complex and confusing, particularly for older adults. I believe it is critical that we also invest in resources to help patients understand the importance of cancer screenings and that they have access to the necessary resources to get screened.

Cancer affects everyone. But it does not affect everyone equally. People of color, in rural areas and in other underserved communities are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at later stages and to have poorer outcomes as a result.

Many communities don’t have adequate healthcare services, and it’s become worse with the closure of rural hospitals. Many individuals lack transportation to get to the facilities closest to them. We need more mobile health units going into rural areas and bringing healthcare to the people who need it. We need more efforts to provide education and assistance to those who struggle with costs and feel they can’t afford to find out they are sick. It’s imperative that we help people understand the benefits of early screenings.

This bill, though, is a critical first step in ensuring early screening tools are covered by Medicare for older adults who have the highest risk for cancer.

Early detection is the next phase in the fight against cancer. It’s what will save lives and spare countless families the grief and anguish of losing a loved one. I urge Congress to pass this bill and ensure that America’s seniors can access life-saving cancer screenings without delay. Thank you, Rep. Sewell, for your leadership on this issue, and thank you to all of the advocates who are working hard to make this bill a reality.

William Merriweather III is a longtime advocate of healthcare access. He lives in Birmingham.