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(ALBANY, New York). Today, NYS Senator Roxanne J. Persaud, Chair of the NYS Senate Social Services Committee, and NYS Assembly Member Pamela J. Hunter, Chair of the NYS Assembly Banks Committee, call on Governor Hochul to sign into law S.1196-A/A1673-A, which passed the Senate and Assembly in June with bipartisan support. The bill would require state-regulated health insurance plans, including Medicaid, to cover biomarker testing when supported by medical and scientific evidence. There are more than sixty organizations supporting this bill.
Biomarker testing has become a revolutionary part of cancer care and determining the best treatment for other serious and life-threatening conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, preeclampsia, and Parkinson’s. Despite the proven benefits, many insurers fail to keep pace with innovations and advancements in biomarker testing. As a result, some patients must decide whether to pay out-of-pocket or go without the testing that may connect them with lifesaving treatment or help them avoid unnecessary or ineffective treatments. Moreover, people of color, individuals with lower incomes, and rural communities are disproportionately left behind from these advancements, and the current system of medical inequity is exacerbated.
“Biomarkers are an excellent tool for cancer care, amongst other illnesses,” said Senator Roxanne J. Persaud, a sponsor of the legislation. “Biomarkers are essential when determining the best possible treatment for many patients. This testing provides a wealth of information to medical providers that can be used to personalize treatment and often improve patients' quality of life. This legislation is a step towards saving the lives of New Yorkers. It is a win for health care, and I urge its signage into law.”
"By signing this bill and expanding coverage of biomarker testing to those covered by state-regulated insurance plans, including Medicaid, Governor Hochul would ensure new treatments are accessible for the most vulnerable, reduce health disparities, and drastically improve outcomes for patients,” said Assembly Member Pamela J. Hunter.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network describes the bill as “an incredibly important step toward improving access to biomarker testing and ensuring that patients get the right medicine at the right time.”
The New York Health Plan Association, which represents the health plans that provide coverage to over eight million New Yorkers, stated that the bill “takes a balanced approach of utilizing biomarker testing to inform the best treatment of care for patients through safe and effective testing that is supported by nationally recognized clinical guidelines.”
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