NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Exact Sciences announced today that its Cologuard colon cancer screening test will be covered as an in-network service for Humana members beginning next year.
According to Exact, under a recently signed agreement, the test will be available to most of Humana's 10 million beneficiaries with no co-pay beginning on Jan. 1, 2017.
The agreement follows last week's settlement of a lawsuit between Humana and Exact. As reported by GenomeWeb, Exact sued Humana earlier this year for allegedly circulating fliers that falsely told healthcare providers that Cologuard is "ineffective" and not covered.
"As demand for Cologuard grows, this contract marks an opportunity to increase access to colon cancer screening among Humana's beneficiaries who now can choose Cologuard and its wrap-around compliance service," Exact Chairman and CEO Kevin Conroy said in a statement. "We believe this decision by one of the nation's largest health insurers reflects a growing understanding that Cologuard can detect more cancers earlier and reduce costs in the health system."
Cologuard, which was approved by US regulators in 2014 and included as an A-rated service in the US Preventive Services Task Force's colorectal cancer screening guidelines earlier this year, gauges altered DNA in stool associated with colon cancer or precancer risk. Exact said that the test is now covered by a variety of health plans nationwide with more than 153 million total members.