**ALERT: NEWS CONFERENCE** Patient Advocates Join at Capitol to Call for Passage of Crucial Biomarker Testing Coverage Bill

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Advocates from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the Alzheimer’s Association and the Arthritis Foundation will join together on Tuesday, February 3, to host a news conference calling on lawmakers to pass legislation that would ensure appropriate coverage of biomarker testing. Biomarker testing has become an increasingly important tool in treating many cancers and diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. It also can help in treating other diseases and conditions.

The joint news conference will take place at 9:30 a.m. in the ground floor media room of the Cordell Hull State Office Building. Volunteers from the patient groups will also be at the Capitol the rest of the day meeting with lawmakers about the importance of House Bill 0484 and Senate Bill 0435.

“We are proud to join with our patient advocacy partners to fight for all Tennesseans to access the best possible care,” said Maddie Michael, government relations director for ACS CAN in Tennessee. “More than 44,000 Tennesseans will receive a cancer diagnosis this year. They deserve the right treatment in a timely manner.”

"Currently, there are 129,200 Tennesseans living with Alzheimer’s," said Alzheimer's Association Tennessee Government Relations Director Leanne Durm. "Biomarker testing is critical to the early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's and dementia. It reduces the time it takes to receive a diagnosis and enables quicker access to new disease-modifying treatments that slow the progression of Alzheimer's, if detected in its earliest stages.”

To date, 22 states have passed legislation to ensure coverage of biomarker testing, including Georgia, Texas and Kentucky.

WHERE: Cordell Hull State Office Building, Ground Floor Media Room

WHEN: Tuesday, February 3, 9:30 a.m.

WHO:

Maddie Michael, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Leanne Durm, Alzheimer’s Association

Stephen Huff, Cancer Patient who had Biomarker Testing

Laura Musgrave, Alzheimer’s Association Volunteer

Dr. Wade Iams, Director of Lung Cancer Research, Tennessee Oncology

Rep. Brock Martin

Sen. Shane Reeves

**speaker list subject to change**

**Advocates will be at the Cordell Hull State Office Building from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and can do interviews outside the news conference. Please call Stacy at 443-610-3627 if you want to arrange coverage at a time before or after 9:30.**