Biomarker testing helps get the right treatment to the right patient at the right time. Each person's cancer has a unique pattern of biomarkers. Progress in improving health outcomes increasingly involves precision medicine, which uses information about a person's genes or proteins to prevent, diagnose, or treat various diseases like cancer. Biomarker testing is essential to accessing precision medicine, including targeted therapies that can improve survivorship and better quality of life for patients battling cancer.
Currently, not all patients have access to biomarker testing. Without equitable access to biomarker testing, patients cannot access the best therapy for their cancer's specific biomarker. In some cases, health insurance may cover precision medicine therapy but doesn't cover the biomarker test itself. This results in ''no test, no treatment,'' which can cause patients to make difficult treatment decisions without having access to critically needed information about their unique biomarkers.
WHAT THIS BILL DOES
- H1227 and S809, An Act Relative to Cancer Patient Access to Biomarker Testing, ensures coverage of biomarker testing for diagnosing, treating, and managing illnesses such as cancer.
- It avoids delays in determining whether a patient is a candidate for a biomarker test and for the precision medicine therapy that will allow patients to receive the most appropriate treatment for illnesses such as cancer.
WHY THIS MATTERS
- Biomarker testing is becoming increasingly important in cancer care.
- Patients from vulnerable communities are not equally benefiting from biomarker testing and advancements in precision medicine. Access to biomarker testing through insurance coverage will help reduce health disparities
- Precision medicine via biomarker testing has the potential to reduce overall health care costs by ensuring the patient has the right therapy rather than having to endure multiple treatments that don't improve their condition.
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