In the near future, Representative Bryan Cutler and I will introduce legislation that expands the use of precision medicine, also referred to both as personalized health care and individualized medicine.  Precision medicine is an evolving field in which health care providers use analysis of a patient’s biospecimen, known as biomarker testing, to determine which medical treatments will work best for each patient.  By combining the data gathered through biomarker testing with an individual’s medical history, circumstances and values, health care providers are better able to direct a patient to targeted effective and efficient treatment.   

The field of precision medicine holds great promise for Pennsylvanians and Pennsylvania’s health care systems because it will help ensure the delivery of effective and efficient treatment for a patient at the earliest possible time.  Increasing access to precision medicine avoids treatment or treatment plans that may cause physical or financial detriment.  Precision medicine also maximizes the efficient use of medical staff and resources which are already over extended.    

Our legislation will address the existing lack of awareness among providers and patients regarding the use of biomarker testing; it will standardize definitions in an area where a lack of common terminology is rampant; and will reduce the disparate treatment of biomarker testing as a covered benefit from insurers.  These disparities all too often result in blocking the effective integration of biomarker testing into precision medicine, particularly for diverse communities.   

Our legislation is not designed to generate huge costs to be borne by the patient, the policy holder, the provider, or the insurer, but rather to ensure that patients are obtaining the treatments that they need.  These treatments can benefit patients with such diseases as all forms of cancer, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).  This legislation is personal to many Pennsylvanians, including both of us.   

Please join us in sponsoring this cutting-edge legislation which is designed to ensure that patients can obtain effective and efficient treatment they need, while reducing the costs of healthcare through avoiding unnecessary or inefficient treatment and allowing medical professionals to focus on care that works.