NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On Tuesday, April 7, Senate Bill 0435 to expand coverage of biomarker testing in Tennessee overcame a significant hurdle, passing the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee. SB0435 would expand coverage of biomarker testing for patients enrolled in state employee health insurance plans and TennCare.
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Tennessee Government Relations Director Maddie Michael attended Tuesday’s hearing to highlight the importance of this critical legislation in improving patient access to care.
“Coverage for comprehensive biomarker testing will enable more patients to access the most effective treatments for their disease and can help achieve the triple aim of health care: better health outcomes, improved quality of life and reduced costs,” Michael said.
Cancer patients who benefited from biomarker testing have also shared stories with legislators, including Beth Madison of Jackson, who is a triple positive breast cancer survivor, and Stephen Huff of College Grove.
“This is the single most important thing that kept me alive this long,” Huff said of biomarker testing and the targeted treatments it unlocked. “We always dreamed of having a family, and with my diagnosis, we weren’t sure if it would ever be possible. Biomarker testing and precision medicine helped make that possible and has given me more time to be here with my wife and kids.”
In the case of a cancer diagnosis, biomarker testing helps doctors determine the right treatment path, saving some patients from treatments that may not work and waste time. It also helps with the management of other diseases, including Alzheimer’s, arthritis and an array of rare diseases.
The full Senate is expected to vote on the bill next week. Tennessee could become the 24th state to pass legislation expanding coverage of biomarker testing, following in the footsteps of neighboring states Georgia, Kentucky and Mississippi.
Doz