New Legislation Helps Deliver Appropriate Biomarker Testing to More Cancer Patients When and Where They Need It

Currently, there is a significant divide between the promise of precision medicine and how equitably new innovations are applied to each cancer patient’s treatment journey. Our expert guests Hilary Gee Goeckner (Director of State and Local Campaigns for the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network), and Kristine Ashcraft (founder and President of YouScript, and member of ACS CAN task force) are actively working to close that gap. They are champions of the ASC CAN effort to pass legislation across the US to expand insurance coverage of evidence-based biomarker testing for cancer patients. In this episode of the Precision Medicine Podcast, they explain why it’s so important.

Because biomarker testing is a complex topic, host Karan Cushman kicks off the episode by asking our guests to define the different types and their respective benefits. Hilary begins by explaining genetic testing and how results offer a view into someone’s risk for developing cancer. She continues through diagnostic biomarker testing which can help match patients with the right treatments. Kristine then introduces pharmacogenomic/pharmocogenetic testing which looks at the genetic variability of how patients respond to drugs.

It's clear that testing offers a wide range of benefits and having biomarker test results upfront can support clinicians in making more precise treatment decisions as well as modifications to drug selections and dosing based on a patient’s individual profile. But our guests remind us that many underserved patients are less likely to receive guideline-indicated biomarker testing for a variety of reasons. Tune in to the full episode for more!