CMS to discuss prognostic tests for cancer

CMS's Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) will meet on March 24 to discuss molecular pathology tests for the prognosis of colorectal, breast and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The committee will review existing evidence that CMS may use to determine coverage for prognostic tests for cancer.

MEDCAC will consider colorectal cancer tests including the Oncotype DX colon cancer assay from Genomic Health Inc. (NASDAQ:GHDX) and testing for BRAF and K-Ras ( KRAS) mutations, microsatellite instability and DNA mismatch repair protein Mlh1 ( MLH1) promoter methylation. The committee will discuss breast cancer tests including MammaPrint from Agendia N.V. (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) and Genomic Health's Oncotype DX breast cancer assay, as well as NSCLC tests including those for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), EGFR and KRAS mutations. ...