NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Genomic Health said after the close of the market on Friday that the national Medicare contractor for the firm's Oncotype DX breast cancer test has expanded Medicare coverage for the test.
The contractor, Palmetto GBA, has expanded its coverage policy for all qualified Medicare patients to include those with ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS, Genomic Health said. The coverage policy took effect May 8.
The Redwood City, Calif.-based company said that detection of DCIS is increasing in the US with more than 50,000 patients diagnosed each year. The Oncotype DX DCIS Score predicts 10-year local recurrence, DCIS or invasive carcinoma, based on the patient's underlying tumor biology, Genomic Health said.
The company last week reported that revenues in the first quarter increased 8 percent year over year driven by adoption of its Onctotype DX products.