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Cancer Survivors Convene in Hartford, Urge Lawmakers to Expand Access to Biomarker Testing

... in who is benefiting from biomarker testing and biomarker-informed treatment. “Biomarker testing is essential to high-quality, personalized care for many conditions and can be a real gamechanger for many patients, but unfortunately, not everyone who can benefit from biomarker testing is getting it,” said Bryte Johnson, ACS CAN Connecticut director of government relations.   “There are significant disparities in health outcomes for Connecticut patients by race, income, and insurance type. Without addressing barriers to care, breakthroughs in personalized treatments could increase these disparities in health outcomes. Already, 20 states have passed similar laws to increase access to comprehensive biomarker testing—and it’s time for ...

Biomarker Testing Bill Passes Assembly Hurdle, Vote Follows Testimony from Breast Cancer Survivors

... bills will receive the necessary support to secure swift passage in the new year. Biomarker testing has become a game-changing part of patient care given its role in opening the door to precision medicine treatments that can lead to improved survivorship and quality of life. Two breast ... a treatment plan specifically for me, and today, I’m in remission,” said Adams. “As woman of color who has navigated many barriers to health care throughout my life, I know how critical it is to prioritize access to resources such as biomarker testing. If we don’t act to expand ... 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 ...

Lawmakers Take Critical Step to Revolutionize Cancer Treatment in Florida, State’s Second Leading Cause of Death

... ( HB 885 and SB 964 ) that will allow more Floridians to access biomarker testing , which has become an increasingly important part of cancer care in recent years. The bill will ensure more patients have the opportunity to benefit from this game-changing testing. Patients who are ... “By aligning coverage for biomarker testing with the latest science, we can help increase access to precision medicine that can lead to better health outcomes and potentially reduce costs by allowing some Floridians to bypass costly and ineffective treatments and instead quickly identify ... 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 Nevada

... and partners are working together to make sure more Nevadans 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 ...

Cancer Patients and Survivors Rally at the Statehouse

... They let their lawmakers know that Indiana can and must do better to prevent cancer and reduce suffering and death by improving access to care and reducing tobacco use. Advocates asked lawmakers to support legislation that would improve access to biomarker testing, a game changer in the fight against cancer and an essential step in accessing precision medicine treatments by ensuring state-regulated health insurance, including Medicaid, covers appropriate biomarker testing for patients who could benefit. Dubbed ‘the right treatment at the right time,’ precision medicine has played a critical role in improving cancer outcomes. Despite its benefits, health insurance coverage of biomarker testing has not kept pace with innovations in treatment. “Biomarker testing has given me better, more ...

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 ...

Kemp Signs into Law Legislation to Expand Access to Biomarker Testing

... This success would not have been possible without invaluable patient, provider, academic and legislative partnerships. Over 50 public health and medical organizations supported this effort. We look forward to cancer patients across Georgia benefiting from improved access to care and better quality of life.” For more information on precision medicine, cancer biomarkers, current barriers to biomarker testing and ACS ... 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 ...

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 ...

Lawmakers can improve the odds in New Yorkers' battles against cancer

... received the three lifechanging words “you have cancer” and around 32,230 died from the disease. Innovation in early detection and cancer care are changing how we detect and treat cancer, but these staggering incidence and mortality rates suggest that many New Yorkers aren’t ... increasingly important for the treatment of other diseases, including arthritis, other autoimmune conditions and rare diseases. Currently, many health insurance plans in New York, including Medicaid, may not cover the most appropriate biomarker testing for all patients who could benefit, ... tested for certain guideline-indicated biomarkers. With biomarker testing increasingly becoming a standard of care in oncology, it’s time that health insurance plans keep up with innovations in testing and treatment. Improving access to biomarker is a simple way for legislators in Albany ...

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