Findings

Congress finds that— (1) esophageal cancer is the fastest increasing cancer among American men; (2) esophageal cancer is one of the fastest growing cancer diagnoses among all Americans, increasing more than 700 percent in recent decades; (3) esophageal cancer kills 1 American every 36 minutes every day; (4) esophageal cancer is among the deadliest of cancers, with only about 1 in 5 patients surviving 5 years; (5) esophageal cancer has tripled in incidence among younger Americans in recent decades; (6) esophageal cancer has low survival rates because it is usually discovered at advanced stages when treatment outcomes are poor; (7) raising awareness about esophageal cancer empowers individuals to seek preventive care, recognize symptoms, and pursue early detection strategies; (8) survivors, caregivers, medical professionals, and researchers have made tremendous strides in advancing treatment options and improving the quality of life for those affected by the disease; (9) esophageal cancer can be prevented through early detection of its precursor, Barrett’s esophagus, which can be eliminated with curative outpatient techniques; (10) research indicates that patients diagnosed with early-stage esophageal cancer have a significantly higher 5-year survival rate (as high as 49 percent) compared to those diagnosed at later stages, underscoring the critical need for enhanced screening and awareness; and (11) as of December 2022, the American Gastroenterological Association recommends screening with a standard upper endoscopy in individuals with 3 or more established risk factors for Barrett’s Esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma, including— (A) male sex; (B) non-Hispanic white ethnicity; (C) age of 50 years or older; (D) a history of smoking, chronic gastrointestinal reflux disease, or obesity; and (E) a family history of Barrett’s Esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma.

GAO report

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to Congress that includes an evaluation of— (1) the total impact of esophageal cancer-related health care spending under the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program for Federal employees and retirees diagnosed with esophageal cancer; and (2) how often individuals covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program with medical records indicating such individuals are high-risk for esophageal cancer undergo screening according to the established guidelines.