Committee hears sponsor testimony on bill to require insurer coverage for biomarker testing after diagnosis

Representative White presented sponsor testimony for House Bill 8 in the Ohio House Health Committee’s first hearing on the proposal to require health plans to cover biomarker testing when it meets specified medical and scientific evidence standards. White said the bill would standardize coverage for tests that identify genetic or other biomarkers used to match patients to targeted therapies, and that more than 70 health-care and advocacy organizations support the measure.

White said the requirement would apply only when testing is supported by rigorous evidence — citing U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services…