RALEIGH, N.C. – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) advocates for evidence-based policies that reduce the cancer burden. As the North Carolina legislature prepares to return to the General Assembly next week, ACS CAN urges the Senate to pass House Bill 567 to increase access to biomarker testing.
Biomarker testing is a key tool used by physicians to inform treatment decisions for cancer and other diseases, including Alzheimer’s, arthritis and rare diseases. It helps ensure patients get the right treatment at the right time, which can improve quality of life and increase chances of survival.
To date, 25 states have passed legislation to improve coverage of biomarker testing, including Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee. North Carolina should be next.
The following statement can be attributed to Jon Charest, grassroots manager for ACS CAN in North Carolina:
“In recent months, we have spoken to many patients and families who’ve shared remarkable stories about the impact biomarker testing had on their lives. For one of our volunteers, it altered his brain cancer treatment path in a way that changed the trajectory of his disease and almost instantly improved his quality of life. For another, it confirmed a diagnosis of a rare disease that requires constant care for her then two-year-old daughter. There are many examples around us of the beneficial impacts of biomarker testing. We urge North Carolina state senators to consider these stories and look forward to working with the General Assembly to pass legislation that will improve access to biomarker testing.”