COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Ohio House passed House Bill 24, which would ensure that biomarker testing, a game changer in the fight against cancer and an essential step in accessing precision medicine treatments, is covered by more insurance plans in the Buckeye state.
The following is a statement from Leo Almeida, government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in Ohio:
"Biomarker testing and precision medicine are helping extend and improve lives by tailoring care and treatment to a person’s specific type of cancer. We have heard countless stories of the difficulties patients face in attempting to access this critical testing. It’s time for that to change.
"This legislation will help address a significant barrier and bring the promise of precision medicine to more Ohioans, no matter their income or where they live. This can provide many benefits to patients, including better outcomes, improved quality of life, and, in some cases, reduced costs from bypassing ineffective therapies.
"ACS CAN thanks Rep. Andrea White for championing this effort and the Ohio House for approving this legislation. We urge the Senate to quickly follow suit and take this significant step towards improving health outcomes and lowering health care costs."
In 2024, approximately 24,810 Ohioans will die from cancer. Improved access to biomarker testing can connect more patients to the most effective treatments, enabling more patients to live longer and have a better chance of beating cancer.
For more information on precision medicine, cancer biomarkers, current barriers to biomarker testing and ACS CAN’s policy recommendations, visit www.fightcancer.org/biomarkers.