Key Points Question Is the implementation of the Medicare national coverage determination (NCD) associated with use of next-generation sequencing by insurance and racial and ethnic categories? Findings In this cohort study of 92 687 patients with lung, breast, colon, and skin cancer, NCD implementation was associated with a slower rate of increase in next-generation sequencing use for patients with patient assistance programs compared with Medicare beneficiaries. Implementation of the NCD was not associated with narrowing of racial and ethnic disparities among Medicare beneficiaries alone or the overall insured population. Meaning These findings suggest that implementation of the Medicare NCD for next-generation sequencing did not result in equal increased use across insurance types or racial and ethnic groups.

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Comprehensive biomarker testing has become the standard of care for informing the choice of the most appropriate targeted therapy for many patients with advanced cancer. Despite evidence demonstrating the need for comprehensive biomarker testing to enable the selection of appropriate targeted therapies and immunotherapy, the incorporation of biomarker testing into clinical practice lags behind recommendations in National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Coverage policy differences across insurance health plans have limited the accessibility of comprehensive biomarker testing largely to patients whose insurance covers the recommended testing or those who can pay for the testing, and this has contributed to health disparities. Furthermore, even when insurance coverage exists for recommended biomarker testing, patients may incur burdensome out-of-pocket costs depending on their insurance plan benefits, which may also create barriers to testing. Prior authorization for biomarker testing for some patients can add an administrative burden and may delay testing and thus treatment if it is not done in a timely manner. Recently, three states (Illinois, Louisiana, and California) passed laws designed to improve access to biomarker testing at the state level. However, there is variability among these laws in terms of the population affected, the stage of cancer, and whether the coverage of testing is mandated, or the legislation addresses only prior authorization. Advocacy efforts by patient advocates, health care professionals, and professional societies are imperative at the state level to further improve coverage for and access to appropriate biomarker testing.