Guardant Health Inc, Redwood City, Calif, has announced that Medicare administrative contractor Palmetto GBA has posted a draft local coverage determination (LCD) expanding Medicare coverage of the company’s Guardant360 liquid biopsy assay from advanced non-small cell lung cancer to more than a dozen advanced solid tumor cancer types with guideline-recommended genomic targets.
The draft LCD applies to advanced cancer patients who are covered by Medicare for next-generation sequencing of tumor tissue, but have insufficient or unavailable tissue samples. Such cases may comprise a significant percentage of advanced cancers, especially those that have spread to the bone, brain, or deep viscera.
“This is an important step toward making sure all Medicare beneficiaries with advanced cancer have timely access to guideline-recommended treatment options,” notes Guardant Health cofounder and CEO Helmy Eltoukhy, PhD.
The Guardant Health oncology platform is designed to leverage the company’s capabilities in technology, clinical development, regulatory, and reimbursement services to drive commercial adoption, improve patient clinical outcomes, and lower healthcare costs. In pursuit of its goal to manage cancer across all stages of the disease, Guardant Health has launched multiple liquid biopsy-based tests. Since its launch in 2014, Guardant360 has been used by more than 6,000 oncologists, over 50 biopharmaceutical companies, and all 27 of the nation’s comprehensive cancer centers.
Palmetto GBA is expected to finalize and implement the LCD after soliciting public comments.
For further information, visit Guardant Health.
