In June of 2024, Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D-CO) signed into law SB24-124, which increased access to biomarker testing for Colorado patients with private insurance (roughly 33 percent of the state’s population). This makes Colorado the twentieth state to ensure coverage of biomarker testing for all or some state-regulated plans.
Biomarkers are specific identifiers of disease that manifest in a patient’s tissue, blood, or other body parts. Biomarker testing has been instrumental to improving patient outcomes and reducing health care costs, particularly among those with limited access to care.
In cancer care, knowing which biomarkers are present can influence treatment. An increasing number of cancer therapies under development target cells with specific biomarkers, making access to this testing crucial. Since patients who receive biomarker testing are able to make informed decisions about their cancer treatment, both patients and insurance companies save money. This is especially important for patients facing financial and other barriers to care.
As of 2024, 22 states have not yet introduced any legislation to expand biomarker testing coverage. Of the states that have introduced legislation, some do not require coverage of testing on all state plans. For example, in Colorado, SB24-124 does not extend the access to biomarker testing to Medicaid enrollees. Expanding coverage to states with no introduced legislation and improving on coverage guaranteed by existing legislation are the next steps in improving access to biomarker testing and reducing health disparities.