HARTFORD – Yesterday, Gov. Ned Lamont signed into law S.B. 307 An Act Concerning Medicaid Coverage of Biomarker Testing. This legislation will increase Connecticut Medicaid (HUSKY Health) coverage of biomarker testing, a form of precision medicine that enables patients to receive treatments personalized to their specific disease.
The following statement can be attributed to Bryte Johnson, Director of Government Relations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in Connecticut:
“This legislation will help dismantle barriers and bring the promise of precision medicine to patients with cancer and other serious diseases, no matter their income, race or where they live. In doing so, it will provide many benefits to patients including better outcomes, improved quality of life, and in some cases, reduced costs from bypassing ineffective therapies.
"On behalf of the multitudes who will benefit from access to biomarker testing, we applaud Gov. Lamont for signing S.B. 307 into law. ACS CAN also thanks Sen. Matt Lesser and Rep. Jillian Gilchrest for championing this legislation. We are thrilled with the unanimous, bi-partisan support shown across the Connecticut House and Senate in support of increasing access to biomarker testing for those who need it.
"Improved access to biomarker testing is uplifting news for men and women suffering from cancer and other serious diseases who utilize HUSKY Health and who may have access to more personalized treatments as a result of the testing. Next session, we look forward to working with lawmakers to extend the same benefit to those covered by private health insurance plans."
For more information on precision medicine, cancer biomarkers, current barriers to biomarker testing and ACS CAN’s policy recommendations, visit: www.fightcancer.org/biomarkers.
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