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Vermont Cancer Advocates Convene at State House to 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 Mike Rollo, ACS CAN Vermont director of government relations.  “There are significant disparities in health outcomes for Vermont 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 Vermont to ...

Rhode Island Senate Votes to Remove Barriers to Biomarker Testing

... Despite its benefits, access to biomarker testing has not kept pace with the rate of innovation due in part to lack of coverage by private health insurance and Medicaid for needed testing. Senate Bill 2201 aims to enable more Rhode Islanders to benefit from biomarker testing, a ... Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in Rhode Island: "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 many months, we have heard countless stories of the difficulties a patient ... and the Rhode Island Senate for approving this legislation. We urge the House to follow suit and also take this critical step towards reducing health inequities and improving cancer outcomes." For more information on precision medicine, cancer biomarkers, current barriers to biomarker ...

Improving Access to Biomarker Testing

... from patients to identify and evaluate cancer biomarkers. Testing patients for specific biomarkers is integral to precision medicine in cancer care, but despite evidence pointing to the clinical benefits associated with biomarker testing, routine clinical use does not always follow, and ... insurance would not cover it or their out-of-pocket costs would be too high. A new report by ACS CAN and LUNGevity Foundation found while health insurance coverage for biomarker testing has improved since the organizations’ last report in 2018, coverage is still failing to keep up ... a combination of factors, as highlighted in the ACS CAN report  Improving Access to Biomarker Testing - Advancing Precision Medicine in Cancer Care  which explores the current landscape of cancer biomarker testing, sheds light on the nature of challenges limiting adoption of appropriate ...

Expand Access to Biomarker Testing in Massachusetts

... more Massachusetts residents can benefit from this important testing. Video of maggies_biomarker_story   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 ...

Expand Access to Biomarker Testing in Hawaii

... sure more residents of Hawai'i can benefit from this important testing. Video of maggies_biomarker_story   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 ...

Expand Access to Biomarker Testing in North Carolina

... sure more North Carolinians can benefit from this important testing. Video of ethans_biomarker_story   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 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 ...

Bill Increasing Access to Biomarker Testing for Certain Coloradans Becomes Law

... and successfully underwent testing after her insurance company denied coverage for testing. “Biomarker testing was a gamechanger in my cancer care,” said Dennis. “Knowing my results informed my team of doctors to the best treatments options possible. Even more Coloradans should ... more Coloradans have access to testing when they need it.” Under SB24-124, over one million Coloradans or roughly 33% of those with private health insurance coverage will now benefit from improved coverage for biomarker testing. Unfortunately, the law does not include coverage for Medicaid enrollees which accounts for more than 1.6 million Coloradans, according to the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.  “While today is a win for Coloradans who are battling cancer and other diseases, it’s important we ...

2023 ACS CAN Florida Research and Innovation Summit

... browser.   Please join us for the   2023 ACS CAN Florida Research and Innovation Summit Bridging the Gap Between Innovation and Access to Care ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society and is the nation’s leading cancer advocacy ... ACS CAN Florida will be hosting a virtual Research & Innovation Summit exploring efforts to bridge the gap between innovation and access to care. Experts will focus on how innovation is transforming the future of cancer treatment, and how public policy decisions can address barriers to ... please call or email Susan Harbin  at 770.546.8845 or [email protected]   ACS CAN is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major public health problem through issue campaigns and voter education aimed at influencing lawmakers and candidates to support laws & policies to help ...

Legislature Prioritizing Removing Barriers to Precision Treatments

... medicine treatments, is covered by Medicaid. Biomarker testing and precision medicine are helping extend and improve lives by tailoring care and treatment to a person’s specific type of cancer.  “Biomarker testing made a huge difference in my life,” said Erin Nielson, a ... my cancer’s DNA would not benefit from chemotherapy. In previous years, chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation would have been the standard of care for my type of cancer.” This legislation will help address a significant barrier and bring the promise of precision medicine to more people, ... 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 ...

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