Access to Biomarker Testing

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Biomarker testing is key to unlocking precision medicine.

Biomarkers are often used to help determine the best treatment for a patient, but not all communities are benefitting from the latest advancements in biomarker testing and precision medicine.


Progress in improving cancer outcomes increasingly involves the use of precision medicine. Biomarker testing is an important step for accessing precision medicine including targeted therapies that can lead to improved survivorship and better quality of life for cancer patients. But without action to expand coverage of and access to biomarker testing, advances in precision medicine could increase existing disparities in cancer outcomes by race, ethnicity, income, and geography.

ACS CAN is working to expand insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing. 

biomarker legislation status july 2024

Biomarker testing coverage for all state-regulated plans: AZ, CA, GA, IL, IN, IA, KY, MD, MN, NM, NY, OK, PA, RI, TX 
Biomarker testing coverage for some plans: AR, CO, CT, FL, LA
Legislation introduced: HI, MA, ME, NV, NJ, OH, VT, WA, WV

*Arkansas and Louisiana laws apply to state-regulated private plans  **Florida law applies to Medicaid and state employee health plan. ***Connecticut law applies to Medicaid. 

 

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Colorado | Florida | Massachusetts | Maryland | Maine | Minnesota | Nevada |  New York | Ohio | Oklahoma | PennsylvaniaTexas | Washington

 

Last Updated July 2024

Biomarker testing helps ensure cancer patients get the right treatment at the right time.

It allows doctors to precisely target a specific cancer so patients may not have to undergo more generalized treatments like chemo and radiation that may not work as well for them.

Patient and Provider Stories

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Latest Updates

April 11, 2025
North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. - More than 50 cancer advocates, including patients, survivors and caregivers from around North Carolina will travel to the General Assembly on Wednesday, April 16, to meet with lawmakers and ask for their support of House Bill 567 to increase access to biomarker testing. When someone

April 8, 2025
Maryland

Maryland state lawmakers have released details on the agreed upon 2025-26 budget—the contents of which are a mixed bag in the fight against cancer. While the state made sound investments in cancer research and protected Medicaid recipients’ ability to access biomarker testing, it missed an opportunity to save the lives and lungs of Maryland’s youth by cutting funding for the state’s tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

April 1, 2025
North Carolina

North Carolina lawmakers have taken a critical step in efforts to reduce the cancer burden by introducing House Bill 567 . If passed, the legislation would allow more North Carolinians to access biomarker testing, which has become an increasingly important part of cancer care. Patients who are diagnosed with

March 25, 2025
New Jersey

Yesterday, both chambers in the New Jersey State Legislature passed legislation (Assembly Bill 4163 / Senate Bill 3098) to increase access to biomarker testing, which can help determine the best treatment plan for each patient. The bill will now go to Governor Murphy’s desk, providing him the opportunity to ensure coverage of this essential testing for more New Jerseyans. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is leading the efforts on this significant policy change to ensure more patients can get the testing needed to access precision medicine.

Access to Biomarker Testing Resources

Biomarker testing is key to unlocking precision medicine. However, coverage for guideline-recommended biomarker tests is not universal and can be a barrier to cancer patients accessing treatments that can lead to improved survival and quality of life.  

Cancer biomarker testing can lead to targeted therapy which can improve survival and quality of life by connecting patients to the most beneficial treatment for their disease.

Pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing is a component of precision medicine that involves examining a patient’s inherited genes to detect variations that may impact the way a drug is broken down, absorbed and used within the body.