MATSUI, BILIRAKIS, THOMPSON, KLOBUCHAR, WICKER INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL LEGISLATION TO INCREASE CANCER PATIENT ACCESS TO MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Mike Thompson (D-CA), as well as U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to increase access to molecular diagnostic testing for rare cancer patients. The Finn Sawyer Access to Cancer Testing Act would ensure patients on Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) can receive testing at the time of first diagnosis, rather than only for recurrent or metastatic cancers. The legislation is named after Finn Sawyer Schafran, a three-year-old who passed away from a rare cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma in 2018.

“At a time when health care coverage is under threat and essential programs like Medicaid face potentially massive cuts, ensuring access to essential services is more crucial than ever,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “For the thousands of Americans with rare cancers, accurate diagnosis is lifesaving. Molecular diagnostics play a key role in delivering targeted therapies swiftly, potentially improving outcomes for all cancer patients. That’s why I’m proud to co-author the Finn Sawyer Access to Cancer Testing Act.”

“The targeted reforms in our bipartisan, bicameral bill will have a meaningful impact on accelerating the development of treatments for rare cancers and will remove bureaucratic hurdles that currently keep cancer patients from accessing diagnostic screening and effective treatments by qualified specialists,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “Every cancer patient deserves the best chance of survival, and we must create a streamlined regulatory system and payment model to realize this important goal. Our bipartisan legislation will provide hope to millions of patients and families battling cancer and will lead to improved patient outcomes.”

 “Americans diagnosed with cancer should have access to the testing they need, when they need it,” said Rep. Thompson. I’m proud to co-sponsor the Finn Sawyer Access to Cancer Testing Act to ensure patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP can get molecular diagnostic testing right away following their diagnosis. Ensuring this testing is available early on will help doctors improve their treatment plans and save more lives.”

“95 percent of all forms of cancer are considered rare, but far too many patients with rare cancers lack access to accurate and timely molecular diagnostic and treatment options, meaning that hundreds of thousands of Americans can’t receive the effective care they need,” said Senator Klobuchar. “By ensuring patients with rare cancers enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP health coverage, can access molecular diagnostic testing at the time of their initial diagnosis, our bipartisan legislation will help patients receive more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatments much earlier in the course of the cancer, providing patients with a better shot at successful recovery.”

“In honor of Finn Sawyer, his loved ones, and families across the country, we are working to make early molecular testing available to cancer patients at the time of diagnosis,” said Senator Wicker. “This testing should be an option for as many patients as possible. It can improve quality of life, reduce health care costs, and – most importantly – save lives.”

 Molecular diagnostic tests provide clinicians with comprehensive data about patients’ unique form of cancer. This data enables patients to use targeted therapies that may have a higher likelihood of success, especially for cancer patients for whom no standard of care exists. Using more precise diagnostic tests also enables patients to better match with relevant clinical trials, and potentially minimizes the unnecessary use of conventional chemotherapy and radiation that can have harmful side-effects. Technological advancements in molecular diagnostics have accelerated in recent years, but lack of insurance coverage and clinician awareness have led to underutilization of these diagnostic tests.

 The Finn Sawyer Access to Cancer Testing Act would:

1. Mandate coverage for molecular diagnostic tests, including microarray analysis, DNA and RNA sequencing, whole-exome sequencing, and other next-generation screening methods, at the time of initial diagnosis for patients on Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP; and
2. Coordinate an education and awareness program on genetic testing. Currently, many health providers and the general public do not have a full understanding of the scope and benefits of molecular diagnostics and genomic testing. This bill will create an education and awareness program in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute to educate physicians and the general public on the use of genomic testing and the role of genetic counselors.

The Finn Sawyer Access to Cancer Testing Act is endorsed by Cancer Support Community; Elevate Childhood Cancer Research and Advocacy Foundation; Mighty Millie Foundation; First Ascent Biomedical; Friends of TJ Foundation; Focus on Rhabdo; Hope Rises; Tough2gether Foundation; Maddie’s Promise; Sebastian Strong; Summer’s Way Foundation; Super Sam Foundation

The legislation is cosponsored in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Don Bacon (R-NE), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fl), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Jim Himes (D-CT), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Terri Sewell (D-AL), and Don Davis (D-NC). 

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