NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – XDx said this week that health insurer Cigna has issued a positive coverage decision for XDx's AlloMap Molecular Expression Testing for potential heart transplant rejection.
The policy, which took effect immediately, applies to about 13.8 million lives covered by Cigna. Barry Kane, senior director of finance and reimbursement at XDx, said the firm is "particularly pleased" that Cigna is formally covering AlloMap for patients six months to five years post-heart transplant.
AlloMap measures the expression levels of 20 genes from a blood sample and provides clinicians a tool for evaluating a patient's risk for a heart transplant rejection. The company launched the test in 2005, and the US Food and Drug Administration approved the test three years later.
XDx said last month it had reached an agreement with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield for coverage of the test. The Brisbane, Calif.-based company also said in February that Florida Medicaid issued a positive coverage decision for AlloMap.