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Governor Newsom Signs Game-Changing Legislation Aimed at Improving Health Outcomes, Quality of Life for Californians
SACRAMENTO , Calif. – California Governor Gavin Newsom announced he has signed Senate Bill 496 on Saturday, ensuring that more health insurance plans, including Medi-Cal, cover comprehensive biomarker testing when supported by medical and scientific evidence. The bill, ... Newsom for taking this crucial step to turn the promise of precision medicine into a reality for more Californians. A longstanding leader in health equity and medical innovation, California joins twelve other states that have enacted similar legislation,” said Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO ... that often improve survivorship and quality of life for cancer patients and others with chronic diseases. “Biomarker testing can help health care providers render the right treatment at the right time and is increasingly important for cancer care and the treatment of diseases like ...
Legislation Aimed at Improving Health Outcomes, Quality of Life for Californians Heads to the Governor’s Desk
Sacramento , Calif. – The California Legislature passed a bill Thursday night to ensure that more health insurance plans, including Medi-Cal, cover comprehensive biomarker testing when supported by medical and scientific evidence. Senate Bill ... received strong, bipartisan support throughout the legislative process. It now heads to the governor’s desk. “Biomarker testing can help health care providers render the right treatment at the right time and is increasingly important for cancer care and the treatment of diseases like ...
California Assembly Committee Passes Legislation Requiring More Insurance Plans Cover Biomarker Testing Needed for Many Innovative Cancer Treatments
Sacramento, Calif. – June 21, 2022 – The California Assembly Health Committee passed a bill today that would ensure comprehensive biomarker testing is covered by more insurance plans, including Medi-Cal, when ... mutations – which can be measured in blood, tissue or other biospecimens. “Despite its benefits and increasingly important role in cancer care and improving cancer outcomes, 66% of oncology providers reported that insurance coverage is a significant or moderate barrier to appropriate ... the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “It’s imperative we dismantle cost barriers in order to address and help reduce health disparities.” Communities that have been under-resourced, including communities of color, individuals with limited income, rural residents ...
Legislation Introduced to Increase Californians’ Access to Biomarker Testing, the Key to Precision Medicine
... — Today, State Senator Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) introduced legislation to ensure comprehensive biomarker testing is covered by more health insurance plans, including Medi-Cal, when supported by medical and scientific evidence. Senate Bill 496 aims to enable more Californians to ... “Biomarker testing can help healthcare providers render the best treatment options for patients, which is increasingly important for cancer care and the treatment of diseases like arthritis, other immune conditions and rare diseases,” said Sen. Limón. “This bill removes barriers to ... legislation. We hope that the amended language will address Governor Newsom’s concerns and that he will take this new opportunity to reduce health disparities by bringing the promise of precision medicine to more Californians.” The percentage of clinical trials that involve biomarkers ...
Senate Introduces Legislation to Increase Californians’ Access to Lifesaving Testing and Innovative Treatments
... teamed up to sponsor this important next step in ensuring cancer patients have access to precision medicine. The UC system is a leader in cancer care through the UC Cancer Consortium which comprises five of the nation's 51 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. ... cancer diagnosis across the state on an equitable basis,” said Carrie L. Byington, M.D., executive vice president of University of California Health. “California has the opportunity to be among the leaders in the nation with this legislation.” Despite its benefits, access to biomarker ... due to several factors, including low awareness of new testing methodologies among providers and patients and lack of coverage by private health insurance and Medicaid programs. “Biomarker testing and precision medicine have led to improved patient survival and quality of life,” ...
Cancer Advocates Urge California Legislators to Take Critical Step to Connect Patients with Most Effective Treatment Options
... cancer was low,” said Punita Khanna , ACS CAN volunteer and breast cancer survivor. Biomarker testing is increasingly important for cancer care – and for the treatment of other diseases including arthritis, other autoimmune conditions and rare diseases, with research happening in ... Director for ACS CAN. “In California, we believe in taking care of each other and strive toward a more just and equitable society. Reducing health insurance coverage barriers to this essential testing could help avoid exacerbating existing health disparities in outcomes and bring the promise of precision medicine to more Californians, no matter their race, income, zip code or ...
More Californians with Cancer, Other Chronic Diseases, Get Access to Game-Changing Testing
... the state budget on June 29, allowing for Medi-Cal implementation of Senate Bill 496. Starting July 1st, Medi-Cal and other state-regulated health insurance plans will cover comprehensive biomarker testing when supported by medical and scientific evidence. Testing for specific ... of Ontario who was diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer, access to biomarker testing was a game-changer. “Despite being on chemotherapy, my health was taking a turn for the worse. My family and I were preparing for my imminent death when I received the biomarker testing results that led ... I had undergone chemotherapy,” said Khanna. “This new law removes barriers to precision medicine and can potentially reduce overall health care costs by avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations and treatments. It will turn the promise of precision medicine into a reality for more ...
State Senate Committee Votes to Increase Access to Innovative Testing and Lifesaving Treatments
Video with cancer survivor’s story here . Sacramento, Calif. – The California Senate Health Committee voted Wednesday evening to advance a bill that would increase access to biomarker testing, a critical step in accessing precision ... that have been under-resourced, including communities of color, individuals with limited income, rural residents and patients receiving care in non-academic medical centers are less likely to receive recommended biomarker testing. “We urge the legislature to pass this bill to help ... California Legislative Director for ACS CAN. “Improving coverage for and access to biomarker testing across insurance types is key to reducing health inequities and improving cancer outcomes.” For more information on precision medicine, cancer biomarkers, current barriers to biomarker ...