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Subcommittee OKs bill requiring coverage for provider-ordered biomarker testing
Summary
House Bill 484, sponsored by Chairman Martin, was amended and passed by the Insurance Subcommittee to require coverage of provider-ordered biomarker (biomarker) testing for diagnosis and treatment management; supporters said the tests can improve targeted cancer care and reduce long-term costs.
The Insurance Subcommittee voted 6-0 to pass an amended House Bill 484, which requires coverage of provider-ordered biomarker testing when used for diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of conditions, according to the sponsor.
"The intent of this bill is pretty simple. It's to get Tennesseans the right treatment at the right time... This bill will ensure that biomarker testing is covered when ordered by a provider for the purpose of diagnosis, treatment, and appropriate management of ongoing conditions," Chairman Martin, the bill sponsor, told the committee.
Martin said the bill excludes general screening and includes "guardrails" meant to ensure testing follows the best available medical and scientific evidence. He and other members cited examples from other states: "Similar bills have passed in states like Oklahoma, Texas, Indiana, and Florida," Martin said, noting the applications are often in oncology.
Representative Freeman shared personal experience with breast cancer and said the policy "is gonna really change lives and allow doctors to give the treatment," adding that targeted treatment can "lower cost, improve efficacy." Other members, including Chairman Kumar, described biomarker testing as "advanced science" that must be "used correctly." One committee member noted a 2021 survey finding that oncology providers reported insurance coverage limitations as a barrier to care.
The clerk announced the vote as "6 ayes and 0 nays." The committee recorded an untimely-filed amendment that was considered, and subsequently an amendment that was adopted before the bill passed. The bill will advance to the full Insurance Committee.
