MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Exact Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ: EXAS) today announced expanded patient access to Cologuard as a result of several insurers now covering the test. Cologuard is now covered for more than 90 million Medicare and commercial lives across the U.S.
Since the start of 2015, several insurers began covering Cologuard as a noninvasive colon cancer screening test. In addition to several smaller regional providers, insurance plans covering the test now include:
- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, a leading national health plan with more than 37 million members across 14 states,
- Tufts Health Plan, with more than 1 million members across Massachusetts and Rhode Island and ranked the number one health plan for quality in the country for its Commercial plans and its Medicaid plans*,
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield PPO (CareFirst), with 2.3 million eligible members across Maryland, District of Columbia and Northern Virginia,
- Excellus BCBS WNY, with more than 1.4 million members across Western New York and
- Dean Health Plan, insuring more than 272,037 members across Central Wisconsin.
“As adoption of Cologuard grows rapidly among leading insurance providers, Exact Sciences is encouraged that the medical community continues to believe in the value of offering this additional noninvasive screening test to average risk patients,” said Kevin Conroy, Chairman and CEO of Exact Sciences. “With expanded patient access to the test, we are excited about the opportunity to reach millions of people and continue to support awareness and options for colorectal cancer screening nationwide.”
Cologuard offers people 50 years and older who are at average risk for colorectal cancer an easy-to-use screening test that they can do in the privacy of their own home. Unlike many other screening options, Cologuard does not require medication, dietary restrictions or bowel preparation prior to taking the test. It is the first noninvasive screening test for colorectal cancer that analyzes both sDNA and blood biomarkers to detect cancer and precancer. Cologuard is available by prescription only.
For more information, visit www.CologuardTest.com or call 1-844-870-8870.
* The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Private and Medicaid Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2014-2015.
About Cologuard
Cologuard was approved by the FDA in August
2014 and results from Exact Sciences’ prospective 90-site,
point-in-time, 10,000-patient pivotal trial were published in the New
England Journal of Medicine in April 2014. Cologuard is included in
the colorectal cancer screening guidelines of the American Cancer
Society and stool DNA is listed in the screening guidelines of the U.S.
Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer.
Cologuard is indicated to screen adults of either sex, 50 years or older, who are at average risk for colorectal cancer. Cologuard is not for everyone and is not a replacement for diagnostic colonoscopy or surveillance colonoscopy in high-risk individuals. False positives and false negatives do occur. Any positive test result should be followed by a diagnostic colonoscopy. Following a negative result, patients should continue participating in a screening program at an interval and with a method appropriate for the individual patient. Cologuard performance when used for repeat testing has not been evaluated or established. For more information about Cologuard, visit www.CologuardTest.com. Rx Only.
About Exact Sciences Corp.
Exact Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ: EXAS) is a molecular diagnostics company focused on the early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer. The company has exclusive intellectual property protecting its noninvasive, molecular screening technology for the detection of colorectal cancer. Cologuard is included in the colorectal cancer screening guidelines of the American Cancer Society and stool DNA is included in the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.exactsciences.com, follow us on Twitter @ExactSciences or find us on Facebook.
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