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Legislation Aimed at Improving Health Outcomes for Pennsylvanians Heads to the Governor’s Desk
... illnesses and diseases can get the testing needed to access precision medicine. Biomarker testing has become a game-changing part of cancer care given its role in opening the door to targeted treatments that can lead to improved survivorship and quality of life. Despite the proven ... at Jefferson, he did have to contend with the roadblocks that many rural communities do. Pennsylvanians who do not live in proximity to academic health centers as well as many people of color and individuals with lower incomes are being left behind from advances in precision ... Society Cancer Action Network thanks lawmakers for passing legislation that expands access to precision medicine Legislation Aimed at Improving Health Outcomes for Pennsylvanians Heads to the Governor’s Desk ...
Governor Shapiro Signs Game-Changing Legislation Aimed at Improving Health Outcomes, Quality of Life for Pennsylvanians
... Shapiro signed House Bill 1754 into law, securing a major win for patients across Pennsylvania. The new law will require all state-regulated health plans, including Medicaid, to cover comprehensive biomarker testing, which will enable more Pennsylvanians to access biomarker testing that ... for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in Pennsylvania. “This game-changing bill is good for Pennsylvania—the health of our state and its residents. Ensuring that more Pennsylvanians will have access to proven biomarker testing will mean more patients ... on this critical legislation and Governor Shapiro for signing it into law." Biomarker testing has become a game-changing part of cancer care given its role in opening the door to personalized care, including targeted treatments that can lead to improved survivorship and quality of ...
Advocates Set Sights on Improving Access to Cancer Prevention & Detection, Reducing Burden of Disease for PA Patients in 2025
... patients. Beginning in the new year, Act 39 of 2024 will make it so that all patients who can benefit and are insured through a state-regulated health plan will receive coverage for biomarker testing, a game changer in the fight against cancer and an essential step in accessing precision medicine treatments. Pennsylvanians also secured a victory for access to care through Act 42 of 2024, the newly enacted legislation that includes telemedicine as a covered benefit in the Commonwealth. “This legislative ... so that a person’s economic status does not determine whether or not they have the ability to detect and survive cancer. “Soaring health care costs have made it so that patients are forced to take on medical debt and suffer through its cascading effects in order to receive ...
PA House Insurance Committee Votes to Remove Barriers to Biomarker Testing
... Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in Pennsylvania: "Biomarker testing and precision medicine are helping extend and improve lives by tailoring care and treatment to a person’s individual condition. Over the past few months, we have heard countless stories of the difficulties and ... others. “We ask the House to swiftly pass House Bill 1754 so that the Senate can follow suit and take this critical step towards reducing health inequities and improving health outcomes before the end of session." For more information on precision medicine, cancer biomarkers, current barriers to biomarker testing ...
Pennsylvania House Passes Legislation to Improve Access to Biomarker Testing & Precision Medicine
... the last few decades and is increasingly important in the treatment of other conditions, providing access to targeted treatment and tailoring care to a person’s individual disease. Targeted therapies often result in improved quality of life and survivorship. For example, patients with ... survivor and Philadelphia local Michael Hu. “When I was first diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer, I can recall my sister, who works in health care, saying to me, ‘the treatment you start on matters.’ Throughout the last two years, her words have stuck with me,” said Hu. ... advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control measures. We stand with our volunteers, working to make cancer a top priority for policymakers in ...
Advocates Call on Pennsylvania & Governor Shapiro to Strengthen Cancer Prevention, Detection & Treatment for Residents
... of Senate Bill 954 / House Bill 1754. This legislation aims to equip countless Pennsylvanians who have received a cancer diagnosis and their health care providers with critical information about their disease and how to best fight it. “Despite the benefits of biomarker testing in improving patient outcomes and quality of life, health insurance coverage has not kept pace with innovations, coming up short in enabling residents to receive standard of care. Senators Devlin ...
Biomarker Testing Bill Passes Senate Committee, Advances to Senate Floor
... Co-Director of the Precision Medicine Initiative at Sydney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Jefferson, is a strong proponent of expanding health coverage of biomarker testing for more plans. In a recent visit to Harrisburg to advocate for lawmakers’ support of House Bill 1754, Dr. Johnson said, “Over the last two decades, oncologists’ vision of ‘high quality care’ has increasingly involved the use of precision medicine. Unfortunately, patients are not benefitting equitably from precision medicine, in ... Mullins, Minority Leader Cutler and Senators Robinson and Boscola in pursuing a policy that has drawn the support of providers, public health leaders and patients across the disease spectrum. We hope their colleagues in the Senate heed the call to expand the promise of precision ...
Lawmakers Rally with Patient Advocates to Improve Access to Biomarker Testing, Highlight Personal Connections to Disease
... to support legislation improving Pennsylvanians’ access to biomarker testing. Biomarker testing has become a game-changing part of patient care given its role in opening the door to targeted treatments that can lead to improved survivorship and quality of life. Senate Bill 954 and House Bill 1754 represent a bipartisan proposal to ensure comprehensive biomarker testing is covered by all state-regulated health plans, including Medicaid, when medically appropriate. “I, like too many, have a family history of cancer. My father was diagnosed at a ... fighting cancer if I were to be diagnosed. Because I was screened, tested and received my baseline PSAs in my thirties, I can stay on top of my health,” said Senator Devlin Robinson, co-prime sponsor of Senate Bill 954 . “If someday I do get the dreadful news of cancer, I will have ...
Donna Greco Joins American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to Lead Government Relations in Pennsylvania
... on behalf of sexual assault survivors, she found herself working at the intersection of traumas, including cancer and a lack of access to health care. Greco brings with her a distinct expertise in policy development and grassroots organizing. ACS CAN is the nation’s leading cancer advocacy ... advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control measures. We’re more determined than ever to stand together with our volunteers to end cancer as ...
Expand Access to Biomarker Testing in Pennsylvania
... partners are working together to make sure more Pennsylvanians 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. Insurance coverage for biomarker testing is failing to keep pace with innovations and advancements in treatment. Without action ...