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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | July 20, 2023 04:06 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Danielle Friel Otten |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Insurance Coverage of Biomarker Testing |
| According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a biomarker (short for biological marker) is an objective measure that captures what is happening in a cell or an organism at a given moment. Biomarker testing can show the unique pattern of biomarkers that an individual’s cancer has, which can affect how cancer treatments work on that individual. Accordingly, biomarker testing can be used to identify what type of treatment would be most effective for cancer patients so that no time is wasted on treatments that will not be effective due to the cancer’s unique biomarkers. However, insurance coverage and the cost of biomarker testing varies depending on the insurance plan, the type of test, and the type of cancer. This means that this important tool in fighting cancer may be out of reach for some individuals due to cost. That is why I am introducing legislation to require both government program and private insurance coverage of biomarker testing. Coverage would be extended not just to biomarker testing, but also to other types of genetic or molecular testing for cancer. Additionally, to help us make more informed decisions moving forward, a report would be required from the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee on the impact of providing such coverage. Ensuring coverage of biomarker testing under both our government programs and private health insurance would mean that more individuals with cancer could have access to this lifesaving tool and it would bring our Commonwealth in line with numerous other states that have already acted to do so. It is our job to make sure that those with cancer are given the best chance possible of fighting off this terrible disease. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to fight cancer in this Commonwealth. |
Introduced as HB1594