The Novus team was retained by GRAIL in support of MCED because of their extensive four-decade experience in healthcare and their established network of patient advocacy organizations across New England.

From 2021 to 2025, the Novus team successfully led a grassroots advocacy campaign to educate and mobilize New Hampshire’s federal delegation in support of the Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Act. This legislation aimed to expand Medicare coverage for advanced, early detection cancer screening tests that can detect multiple types of cancer. The campaign included direct engagement with lawmakers and their staff, social media outreach, and coalition-building with state and regional patient advocacy organizations. Other tactics deployed included securing partner sign-on letters, activating grassroots efforts such as phone calls and emails to policymakers, and placing multiple op-eds in local and regional publications. Through these efforts, the Novus team built strong momentum for the bill in New Hampshire and beyond.

Currently, Medicare only covers a limited number of cancer screenings, including tests for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers. While these screenings are important, they only detect about 14% of all cancer cases, leaving most cancers undiagnosed until later stages when treatment is more difficult and costly. MCED tests use cutting-edge scientific advancements to detect multiple types of cancer in their early stages, significantly improving survival rates. The objective was to make certain that policymakers in New Hampshire were well-informed about the MCED issue, recognized the critical need for timely legislation aimed at enhancing early cancer detection and lowering healthcare expenses.

To address this issue, Novus developed a broad coalition of patient advocacy groups, healthcare professionals, and community leaders to push for legislative action. We organized meetings with federal lawmakers and their staff, providing them with scientific data and patient stories to demonstrate the need for expanded Medicare coverage. We also engaged in extensive media outreach, securing op-eds and news coverage to educate the public and generate grassroots support, which included coordinated digital campaigns and direct outreach from constituents. By 2023, every member of the New Hampshire congressional delegation had endorsed the MCED Act as a co-sponsor, marking a significant achievement for the campaign and significantly enhancing the nationwide effort to advance MCED legislation.