Why It Matters
The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging is pushing Congress to remove cost barriers for advanced cancer screening and expand funding for emerging precision cancer therapies. SNMMI’s advocacy centers on ensuring patients can access supplemental breast imaging without out-of-pocket costs, securing federal research dollars for theranostics (treatments that combine diagnosis and therapy), and stabilizing Medicare payments for nuclear medicine physicians. The organization is capitalizing on bipartisan momentum—Congress is advancing the Find It Early Act with support from members like Reps. DeLauro and Fitzpatrick, and the FDA has recently approved expanded theranostic treatments, validating the field’s therapeutic potential.
By the Numbers
SNMMI reported $80,000 in in-house lobbying expenditures for the last quarter of 2025, continuing its long-standing advocacy strategy. The organization is a seasoned lobbying player, having filed 158 disclosures since 2003 with cumulative spending of $7.92 million.
Douglas S. Burrichter and Julia Jackson Bellinger lead the internal team. Historically, SNMMI supplemented in-house efforts with external counsel—Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP served as its primary external partner from 2019-2025, handling Medicare reimbursement issues on the FIND Act with $1.56 million spent across 29 disclosures.
The Agenda
SNMMI is pushing four core legislative priorities. First, advocating for the Find It Early Act, which requires insurance coverage of supplemental breast screenings without cost-sharing. Second, supporting the Nuclear Medicine Clarification Act, which directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to revise medical event reporting regulations. Third, lobbying for dedicated federal funding for theranostics in the FY26 appropriations process. Finally, pushing the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act to reform physician payment structures.
Broader Context
The legislative environment presents multiple tailwinds for SNMMI’s priorities. Congress is actively advancing the Find It Early Act, with bipartisan lawmakers pushing to eliminate cost barriers. The National Cancer Institute received a $7.352 billion appropriation in FY26—a $128 million increase.
The theranostics field is experiencing significant momentum. FDA approval for theranostic treatments was granted in April 2025, while global clinical trials surged from a handful in 2018 to over 80 by mid-2025.
Medicare reimbursement pressures persist. CMS finalized a 2.83 percent decrease to the physician fee schedule for 2025. However, CMS recently unbundled high-cost diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, providing separate reimbursement for drugs exceeding $630 per day.
Between The Lines
Congress is actively advancing legislation aligned with SNMMI’s priorities. The Find It Early Act (S. 1410) has strong bipartisan support, with Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) reintroducing the measure. Complementary legislation, the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act, is championed by Senators Capito (R-WV), Shaheen (D-NH), and Britt (R-AL).
SNMMI is also pursuing appropriations language in the FY26 Labor-HHS funding bill to direct National Cancer Institute research funds toward theranostics—combining diagnostics and therapeutics in precision cancer treatment.
Competitive Landscape
Multiple healthcare organizations are lobbying on overlapping issues. The American Society for Radiation Oncology is engaged in Medicare physician fee schedule reform, creating coordinated advocacy with SNMMI. Corporate actors like Exact Sciences are also mobilizing around cancer screening access, pushing for Medicare coverage of cancer screening tests.
The competitive environment reflects diverse coalitions beyond SNMMI alone, with bipartisan legislators and multiple specialty societies advancing similar priorities around cancer screening and Medicare reimbursement reform.
The Bottom Line
SNMMI is pursuing a focused legislative agenda in a favorable policy environment. The organization’s $80,000 Q4 2025 lobbying investment targets four key areas with demonstrated bipartisan support. The breast cancer screening legislation has strong congressional backing, theranostics has momentum following FDA approvals, and Medicare reimbursement remains a priority for physician groups broadly. Success will depend on competing congressional priorities in a divided budget environment.
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