Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has signed legislation requiring insurance companies to cover "biomarker" testing that helps physicians determine the best treatment for cancer and other health problems, a news release said.
Arizona is one of only a handful of states with this requirement, the governor said.
“These types of tests have become a crucial part of cancer and other disease therapies and should be available to everyone who wants one,” Ducey said in a statement. “Biomarker tests save lives. They help doctors determine the best course of treatment, prevent unnecessary treatments and will help us cure diseases like cancer in the future. No one should be denied this information.”
The testing can make a "life-saving difference" for cancer patients, said Dr. Albert Wendt, a medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer at Dignity Health Cancer Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital.
"It allows us to provide the right treatment options at the right time which helps us improve outcomes and even save lives," the physician said. "Precision medicine, which starts with biomarker testing, is the future of cancer treatment. We appreciate Gov. Ducey and Rep. Cobb for understanding the importance of this cutting-edge technology, and fighting for historic legislation that will allow more Arizonans to have access to these crucial tests."
Cathy Dalzell, a cancer survivor, attended the bill-signing ceremony.
"Biomarker testing for cancer patients is compassionate and common sense legislation, requiring insurance providers to cover testing, will allow doctors to understand the genetic composition of a patient’s disease, so targeted treatment plans can be developed resulting in better health outcomes and better quality of life,” said Dalzell, chair of the Leadership Council for the International Cancer Advocacy Network.
The bill, H.B. 2144, was sponsored by State Rep. Regina Cobb (R-Kingman) and received strong bipartisan support in the Arizona House and Senate, the governor said in the news release.
“Thank you to Rep. Cobb, Senate President Karen Fann, House Speaker Rusty Bowers and all the legislators for advocating for the health and safety of Arizonans,” Ducey said in a statement.