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

• SB689 and HB1074 - An Act Relative to Cancer Patient Access to Biomarker Testing ensures coverage of biomarker testing for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of illnesses such as cancer.
• It avoids delays in both 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.
• This is an issue in which science is ahead of the policy, insurance coverage for biomarker testing is failing to keep pace with innovations and advancements in treatment.
• This is an equity issue. Often, only those with the financial means can afford biomarking tests. Improved access to biomarker testing through insurance coverage will have a significant impact on disparities.
• This is a cost-savings issue. Precision medicine via biomarker testing has the potential to reduce overall healthcare costs by ensuring that the patient has the right therapy for them as soon as possible.