Access to Biomarker Testing

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Biomarker testing is key to unlocking precision medicine.

Biomarkers are often used to help determine the best treatment for a patient, but not all communities are benefitting from the latest advancements in biomarker testing and precision medicine.


Progress in improving cancer outcomes increasingly involves the use of precision medicine. Biomarker testing is an important step for accessing precision medicine including targeted therapies that can lead to improved survivorship and better quality of life for cancer patients. But without action to expand coverage of and access to biomarker testing, advances in precision medicine could increase existing disparities in cancer outcomes by race, ethnicity, income, and geography.

ACS CAN is working to expand insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing. 

biomarker legislation status july 2024

Biomarker testing coverage for all state-regulated plans: AZ, CA, GA, IL, IN, IA, KY, MD, MN, NM, NY, OK, PA, RI, TX 
Biomarker testing coverage for some plans: AR, CO, CT, FL, LA
Legislation introduced: HI, MA, ME, NV, NJ, OH, VT, WA, WV

*Arkansas and Louisiana laws apply to state-regulated private plans  **Florida law applies to Medicaid and state employee health plan. ***Connecticut law applies to Medicaid. 

 

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Colorado | Florida | Massachusetts | Maryland | Maine | Minnesota | Nevada |  New York | Ohio | Oklahoma | Pennsylvania | Texas | Washington

 

Last Updated July 2024

Biomarker testing helps ensure cancer patients get the right treatment at the right time.

It allows doctors to precisely target a specific cancer so patients may not have to undergo more generalized treatments like chemo and radiation that may not work as well for them.

Patient and Provider Stories

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Ruth’s Story

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Carla’s Story

 

Latest Updates

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Biomarker Testing Bill Passes Assembly Hurdle, Vote Follows Testimony from Breast Cancer Survivors

December 17, 2024
New Jersey

This week, New Jersey lawmakers approved legislation to improve access to biomarker testing with a unanimous vote by the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Assembly Bill 4163 now awaits a vote on the Assembly floor. The Senate advanced identical legislation (Senate Bill 3098) in the Senate Commerce Committee last week, which now awaits further consideration by the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee. Advocates with the New Jersey Biomarker Testing Coalition are hopeful that the bills will receive the necessary support to secure swift passage in the new year.

NJ Senate Commerce Committee Advances Biomarker Testing Bill

December 12, 2024
New Jersey

Earlier today, Senate Bill 3098 was unanimously voted out of the Senate Commerce Committee. This legislation, which aims to ensure that biomarker testing is covered by Medicaid and all other state-regulated insurance plans when patients need it, now advances to the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee for further consideration. In October, the Assembly Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee approved identical legislation (Assembly Bill 4163), which now awaits a hearing in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Calls to Improve Access to Biomarker Testing in NJ Bring Together Patients, Providers & Public Health Leaders across Disease Spectrum

December 4, 2024
New Jersey

Key public health, patient and provider groups have come out in support of improving access to biomarker testing in New Jersey, urging lawmakers to advance and pass Assembly Bill 4163 / Senate Bill 3098 this legislative session. This fall, a broad coalition of over 30 organizations, medical leaders and patient advocates wrote to members of the Assembly Financial Institutions & Insurance (AFI) Committee to vote in favor of A4163, which they did—unanimously—several weeks ago. Now, the New Jersey Biomarker Coalition is looking to the Assembly Appropriations and Senate Commerce Committees to take up this bill and follow the lead of their AFI member colleagues.

NJ Assembly Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee Votes to Improve Access to Biomarker Testing

October 24, 2024
New Jersey

Today, the Assembly Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee voted to improve New Jerseyans’ access to biomarker testing, advancing Assembly Bill 4163 out of committee. Championed by Assemblymembers Shavonda Sumter, Gary Schaer and Shama Haider, the proposal would ensure biomarker testing is covered by New Jersey-regulated insurance plans, including Medicaid, when medical and scientific evidence shows it would provide a benefit to patients. Advocates now look to the full Assembly to favorably advance Assembly Bill 4163 to the Senate.

Access to Biomarker Testing Resources

Survivor Views: One in Ten Impacted by Recent Drug Shortages

October 19, 2023

The nation’s drug shortage crisis continues to affect cancer patients and survivors with 1 in every 10 (10%) reporting impacts to care, a majority of whom have had difficulties finding substitute medications (68%) and cited treatment delays (45%).

Cancer Patients and Survivors Overwhelmingly Agree Biomarker Testing Improved Their Treatment

October 19, 2023

Our latest Survivor Views survey sees increases in biomarker testing since the question was last asked three years ago along with reduced cost and coverage barriers in that time. Cancer patients and survivors describe the benefits and overwhelmingly agree biomarker testing gave their providers information that improved their treatment. 

Payer Coverage Policies of Tumor Biomarker and Pharmacogenomic Testing

March 24, 2023

Biomarker testing is key to unlocking precision medicine. However, coverage for guideline-recommended biomarker tests is not universal and can be a barrier to cancer patients accessing treatments that can lead to improved survival and quality of life.