Congress has introduced a bill to expand access to genetic testing for Medicaid recipients; it’s called the Access to Genetic Testing for Medicaid Recipients to Ensure the Right Medicine for the Right Person Act (S.708). 

 The co-morbidities that older adults have often made it challenging to determine the correct dose for medications. Gene-drug interactions add to the complexity of this patient population, slowing the time between diagnosis and treatment. With pharmacogenomic testing, we can secure confidence in finding the right dose for the right patient as soon as possible and reduce adverse side effects resulting from trial and error dosing.  

 While genomic testing empowers our pharmacists to correctly dose for gene-drug interactions the first time, most individuals under Medicaid do not have access to these life-improving tests. By expanding coverage of genetic testing for Medicaid-eligible individuals, we can expect to see fewer adverse effects and improved patient outcomes.  

 The bill, called Access to Genetic Testing for Medicaid Recipients to Ensure the Right Medicine for the Right Person (S.708), was introduced by Senators Brown (D-OH) and Scott (R-SC), and co-sponsored by Senator Blackburn (R-TN). It requires, within one year of enactment, the CMS Administrator to issue guidance for State Medicaid Directors on best practices and coverage policies for pharmacogenomic testing. The goal is to improve health outcomes for Medicaid-eligible individuals living with major depressive disorder or other mental health conditions where PGx testing can benefit pharmacologic choice and dosing.