Biodesix Inc, Boulder, Colo, recently announced that its VeriStrat proteomic blood test for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is now considered a medically necessary benefit by both BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) of Florida and Health Care Services Corp (HCSC).
After a simple blood draw, the VeriStrat assay provides test results within 72 hours, giving physicians prognostic and predictive information to guide treatment of advanced NSCLC. VeriStrat results define likely patient benefits from certain treatments, and can facilitate patient-physician conversations about prognosis, life expectancy, and treatment recommendations. The test is clinically proven for use in patients with advanced NSCLC and has been recommended in the standard of care guidelines since late 2014.
Based on published clinical data, both BCBS of Florida and HCSC independently determined and published policies stating that VeriStrat can be considered medically necessary for patients with advanced NSCLC.
BCBS of Florida serves four million members in the state of Florida, and is one of the state’s largest commercial health plans. BCBS’s coverage position is available online and is currently effective.
HCSC is the largest customer-owned health insurance company in the United States, with more than 15 million members. Its operating divisions include BCBS of Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. HCSC’s policy will be effective on June 1, 2016, and can be accessed online.
With these recent positive coverage determinations, 200 million Americans now have insurance coverage for VeriStrat.
For more information, visit Biodesix.
