CMS Approves Medicare Coverage of Next-Generation Sequencing Tests for Inherited Ovarian, Breast Cancers

Medicare can now cover breakthrough laboratory diagnostic tests that use Next Generation Sequencing for patients with inherited ovarian or breast cancer.

The decision announced Monday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is the latest move by the agency to address how to cover costly new cancer diagnostics and treatments. CMS decided to first cover lab diagnostic tests using next-gen sequencing in March 2018 for patients with certain advanced cancers.

“As a result of today’s decision, more Medicare patients will have access to NGS in managing other types of inherited cancers to reduce mortality and improve health outcomes,” CMS said in a release on Monday.

Source: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payer/cms-approves-medicare-coverage-next-generation-sequencing-tests-for-inherited-ovarian-breast