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Proposal Aimed at Improving Health Outcomes for Mainers Secures Overwhelming Support from Voters
AUGUSTA, ME – JANUARY 29, 2024 – On Tuesday, January 30, Maine’s Joint Standing Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services will consider LD 1577. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urges ... support the bill, which aims to expand coverage for biomarker testing—when medically appropriate—to Mainers insured through state-regulated health plans, including Medicaid. Biomarker testing is a tool utilized by physicians across a variety of specialties to connect patients to the right treatment at the right time. It has become a game-changing part of cancer care by opening the door to targeted treatments that can lead to improved survivorship and quality of life. Despite the proven benefits and ...
Legislation Introduced to Revolutionize Cancer Treatment in Maine
AUGUSTA – Today, LD 1577 was introduced in the Maine Legislature and sent for reference to the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee. This bill will allow more Mainers to receive biomarker testing – a routine step in accessing personalized medicine treatments that has become an increasingly important part of cancer care in recent years due to its significant impact in improving survivorship and quality of life. Progress in the fight against cancer has been in ... director of government relations for ACS CAN. “By aligning coverage of biomarker testing with the latest science, we can help achieve better health outcomes, improved quality of life and potentially reduced costs by allowing some Mainers to bypass costly and ineffective treatments, and ...
Time for Mills to Bring Precision Medicine to all Mainers
AUGUSTA – Last week, The Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee voted to fund LD 1577 An Act to Require Health Insurance Coverage for Biomarker Testing. This legislation, which passed both House and Senate chambers earlier this month with broad ... first and moved to ensure more Mainers have access to biomarker testing. With this medical advancement, many patients can receive personalized care, specific to their individual disease, that can eliminate unnecessary and costly treatments for some patients. “Now, we’re down to the wire and it’s time to look ahead. After two years of advocacy by public health groups, providers and patients across Maine, the only thing that stands between ensuring insurance coverage of this game changing ...
Maine Lawmakers Should Make a New Year’s Resolution to Prioritize Cancer Related Public Policy
... Year and begin the 2025 legislative session, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) calls on lawmakers to prioritize public health and focus on a multipronged approach to cancer prevention and cancer treatment: increasing the tax on cigarettes by $2 per pack with a ... “With a new year and new legislative session upon us, Mainers – citizens and lawmakers alike – are thinking about how they can ensure good health for 2025. Fortunately, we have some of the answers,” said Julia MacDonald, director of government relations for ACS CAN in Maine. ... our state?” she continued. ACS CAN is also renewing efforts to increase access to biomarker testing - an increasingly important part of cancer care. In the case of a cancer diagnosis, biomarker testing allows doctors to precisely target a specific cancer so some patients may not have to ...
Expand Access to Biomarker Testing in Maine
... are working together to make sure more Maine residents can benefit from this important testing. What is Biomarker Testing? In cancer care, biomarkers are often used to help determine the best treatment for a patient . A “ biomarker ” is a sign of a normal biological process, ... that have been excluded, including communities of color, individuals with lower socioeconomic status, rural communities, and those receiving care in non-academic medical centers are less likely to receive biomarker testing. Improving coverage for and access to biomarker testing across insurance types is key to reducing health disparities. Without action to expand coverage and access to biomarker testing, advances in precision medicine could increase existing ...