TRENTON, NJ — Legislation that would require health insurers to cover biomarker testing has advanced in the New Jersey State Senate.

The bill, S-3098, unanimously passed the Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday by a 5-0 vote.

The measure, sponsored by Senators Troy Singleton (D-Burlington) and Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth), would ensure that state-regulated insurance plans cover biomarker testing for patients when it is supported by medical and scientific evidence, removing financial barriers to this innovation. Biomarkers are considered a vital tool in diagnosing and treating diseases including cancer. 

"Despite evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of biomarker testing and targeted therapy, not all individuals currently benefit equitably from these advances," said Singleton, who represents Bordentown in the Legislature. "Dozens of states have made expanded biomarker testing part of their insurance laws, and this important proposal will ensure New Jersey is among them."

"When biomarker testing is not covered by insurance, patients are often forced to make an impossible choice: pay out-of-pocket costs that can reach thousands of dollars or forgo this critical testing altogether," said Senator Gopal (D-Monmouth). "Ensuring timely access to comprehensive biomarker testing supported by medical evidence will save lives, improve health outcomes, enhance quality of life, and reduce overall healthcare costs for New Jersey families."

Biomarker testing plays a pivotal role in advancing targeted cancer treatments, says Singleton and Gopal. By identifying specific cancer biomarkers - including proteins or genetic changes such as mutations, rearrangements, or fusions, the approach allows for therapies that directly target the specific cellular processes in cancer growth, spread, and progression.

Biomarker testing coverage has the potential to reduce disparities in healthcare treatments and outcomes by facilitating faster access to the treatments, which is likely to result in the best outcomes for all patients with coverage, the Senators continued. The testing can save lives, expedite treatment, avoid ineffective treatments, reduce adverse side effects, and potentially lower healthcare costs by matching patients with the treatments most likely to be effective, a practice known as precision medicine.

The bill stipulates that insurance coverage for biomarker testing would include any tests that have Federal Drug Administration or Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approval or those included in nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines. It does not require all biomarker tests to be covered. 

To read the full text of the bill, CLICK HERE. 

Original Article