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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 7, 2022 12:18 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Kim L. Ward |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Insurance Coverage for Life-Saving Genetic Testing for Hereditary Cancers |
| In the near future, I am introducing legislation to give more people access to life-saving genetic testing for hereditary cancers. Genetic testing for heredity cancers is an invaluable tool that more often than not leads to early cancer detection or someone never developing cancer. The testing provides the opportunity for earlier screenings and preventive treatments and procedures. In addition to early detection for an individual, genetic testing also provides vital information for family members of a person who’s been diagnosed with cancer who could potentially inherit the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation because there is a 50% chance of passing along the gene mutation. While testing positive for a gene mutation does not mean an individual will get cancer, it does mean they have a much higher risk of developing a hereditary cancer. For example, approximately 13% of women will develop breast cancer sometime during their lives while 55%–72% of women who inherit a BRCA1 mutation and 45%–69% of women who inherit a BRCA2 mutation will develop breast cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Inheriting the gene mutation also significantly increases a woman’s chance to develop ovarian cancer. About 1.2% of women will develop ovarian cancer sometime during their lives but 39%–44% of women who inherit a BRCA1 mutation and 11%–17% of women who inherit a BRCA2 mutation will develop ovarian cancer. The increased risk of developing breast cancer with the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation isn’t limited to women. According to Penn Medicine’s Basser Center for BRCA, the average male has a 0.1% breast cancer risk. A male with the BRCA1 mutation will have a 1-5% increased risk and a man with the BRCA2 mutation will have an increased risk of 5-10%. My legislation will amend the Insurance Company Law to require insurance coverage for genetic counseling and genetic testing for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation if a person is diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer or has a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. A diagnosis of certain cancers such as breast and ovarian cancer, as well as a family history of these cancers, are strong indicators that an individual may have a gene mutation associated with a hereditary cancer syndrome. My legislation will ensure all associated costs are covered for eligible individuals to receive this potentially life-saving test. I hope you will join me in this initiative to better protect the health of Pennsylvanians. |
Introduced as SB1330