NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Biocept announced today that it has inked an agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois which gives members access to Biocept's menu of circulating tumor cell and circulating tumor DNA tests.
According to Biocept, the addition of BCBS IL's more than 8 million members raises the number of patients with health insurance access to Biocept's liquid biopsy assays to approximately 133 million.
Biocept has steadily increased its menu of liquid biopsy assays over the last year and currently offers tests for alterations in a variety of cancer-associated genes. Its most recent addition is a CTC-based test for androgen receptor expression in prostate and breast cancer.
Michael Nall, president and CEO of Biocept, said in a statement that gaining coverage by individual health plans like BCBS IL is a key aspect of the company's reimbursement strategy.
The agreement with BCBS IL is also the company's first within the larger Blue Cross Blue Shield system. "We view this agreement as another indication of the growing awareness by healthcare providers of the important role liquid biopsy can have in the treatment of patients with cancer," Nall said.
In previous months Biocept has also announced agreements with the preferred provider networks Fortified Provider Network, Three Rivers Provider Network, Multiplan, Stratose, and Galaxy Health Network.