Bill to Help More Oklahomans Access Medical Biomarker Tests Signed Into Law by Gov. Stitt

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — A bill to help more Oklahomans access medical biomarker tests has been signed into law by Gov, Kevin Stitt.

Sen. Paul Rosino, the principal author of the bill, said it was his top priority this session.

“Biomarker tests help doctors determine the best treatment for a patient from the very beginning. They’re predominately used in cancer care, but are increasingly important for other diseases like arthritis and other autoimmune conditions and rare diseases, with additional research underway for Alzheimer’s and more,” Rosino said. “These tests save time, money and improve survivorship and quality of life. This is a tremendous step forward as we work to improve health outcomes in Oklahoma.”

Rosino cited a survey where 66 percent of oncology providers reported that insurance coverage has been a significant or moderate barrier to appropriate biomarker testing for their patients.

“As a cancer survivor myself, I know firsthand that the one thing a cancer patient doesn’t have is time. With cancer being the second leading cause of death in Oklahoma, we must remove barriers to biomarker testing to ensure all patients benefit from the best possible care,” said Rep. Nicole Miller, the House principal author of the bill. “I’m happy to be a part of the effort to deliver targeted therapies and precision medicine for the highest level of effectiveness for the thousands of Oklahomans in the cancer battle, survivors and previvors.”

The bill goes into effect on January 1, 2024.