OLYMPIA, Wash. -- As Washington legislators convene today for a new session, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network advocates will ask them to prioritize patients' ready access to needed and proven biomarker testing.
Biomarker testing is about identifying the most effective treatment for patients with cancer and other serious illnesses. It can open the door to precision treatments that can improve outcomes and quality of life for patients with many diseases and conditions. Similar legislation has passed in 20 states including California, Texas, Georgia and New York.
“Insurance coverage for biomarker testing in Washington is not keeping pace with the latest advances,” said Audrey Miller Garcia, ACS CAN Washington government relations director. “A patient who needs biomarker testing should have the chance to work with their doctor to know the best path forward for identifying potentially lifesaving or extending treatments."
In cancer care, biomarkers are often used to help determine the best treatment for a patient. After a diagnosis, biomarker testing helps connect patients with the right treatment at the right time. This testing can sometimes rule out unnecessary or ineffective treatments, potentially saving costs and avoiding potentially life-altering side effects.
It’s notable that biomarker testing is increasingly important to the treatment of conditions outside of the cancer space, like arthritis and other autoimmune conditions, organ and tissue transplant, and rare diseases. Research is happening in many other areas including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions, cardiology, and more.
Communities of color, individuals with lower socioeconomic status, rural residents, and patients receiving care in non-academic medical centers are less likely to receive biomarker testing. Broadly, cancer is the leading cause of death nationwide among Hispanic/Latino people and Black/African American populations are dying from cancer at a rate disproportionate to white populations.
Without action to increase access to biomarker testing, existing disparities in cancer outcomes by race, ethnicity, income, and geography could increase.
ACS CAN volunteers look forward to meeting with lawmakers and urging them to pass this important legislation during ACS CAN’s Cancer Action Day at the Capitol on Monday, February 3.
Those volunteers will also urge lawmakers to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and all other flavored tobacco products. Tobacco use is still the leading preventable cause of disease and death in Washington, and smoking is linked to at least 12 types of cancers, including lung, liver and colorectal cancers. Each year more than 8,300 die from smoking-related disease in Washington alone.
“Big Tobacco invests nearly $85 million in our state each year to reach their next generation of customers – our kids,” Miller Garcia said. “They spend this money because it provides strong return for them in the form of addicting our youth and pouring millions back into their coffers. It needs to end and lawmakers can make a big difference if they act in this session. We hope they don’t miss this opportunity.”
ACS CAN encourages individuals, businesses and organizations that are interested in getting involved in the fight against cancer to visit https://www.fightcancer.org/states/washington.