Millions of patients across the country are living with a diagnosis that turned their life upside down. Precision medicine has made remarkable progress in recent years — but access to that progress isn't equal, and too many patients are being left behind.
Massachusetts patients are counting on you to raise your voice.
Biomarker testing is one of the most important tools available to help patients and their doctors find the right treatment path. By providing detailed information about a patient's specific condition, it can lead to faster, more accurate diagnoses and care decisions, and better outcomes. This innovative testing is becoming increasingly essential for patients managing serious conditions like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders.
Unfortunately, many Massachusetts patients can't access biomarker testing. Coverage in both public and private insurance plans hasn't kept pace with medical advancements, leaving patients with high out-of-pocket costs and no way to access this potentially lifesaving tool. The burden falls disproportionately on communities that already face barriers to care, including communities of color, lower-income households, and rural populations. Without action, existing health disparities will only deepen.
Join us and send a letter to Massachusetts lawmakers urging them to support House Bill 1227 (H.1227) and Senate Bill 809 (S.809), legislation that would expand access to biomarker testing and ensure Massachusetts patients can find the treatment that's right for them at the right time.
As your constituent, I urge you to support H.1227/S.809, legislation that would expand insurance coverage for biomarker testing and help ensure Massachusetts patient can get the best treatment for their condition in the moments that matter most.
Biomarker testing provides critical insight into a patient's specific condition — helping physicians give more accurate diagnoses and prescribe more targeted treatment plans. For people with cancer or managing serious chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, or other rare and difficult to treat conditions, this kind of precision can be lifesaving.
The benefits go beyond better health outcomes. When patients are matched to treatments that actually work for them, they avoid the physical toll and financial burden of ineffective therapies. That means less unnecessary suffering, and lower long-term healthcare costs for patients themselves and the broader healthcare system.
Unfortunately, many Massachusetts patients are unable to access biomarker testing due to high out-of-pocket costs or simply because of what their insurance plan will or won't cover. The burden falls hardest on those who are already underserved — communities of color, people with limited financial resources, and patients in rural areas who already face significant obstacles to getting care.
Every day without action means more patients in Massachusetts missing out on testing that could change the course of their treatment. I urge you to support H.1227/S.809 and make sure that where someone lives, what they earn, or what insurance they have doesn't determine their ability to get the best possible care for their condition.
Thank you,
