NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Georgia and Virginia will cover Exact Sciences' Cologuard colorectal cancer screening test as an in-network service for its members, Exact announced today.
Both insurers are the largest commercials providers in their states and part of the second-largest commercial insurance network in the US, Exact added.
"Cologuard's in-network coverage continues to grow this year," said Chairman and CEO Kevin Conroy in a statement. "Together with our recent agreement with Anthem in California, these new contracts ensure Cologuard will be covered as an in-network benefit for nearly half of the insurer's members."
In a recent call where he discussed Exact's Q4 earnings with analysts, Conroy said the agreement with Anthem BCBS in Georgia and Virginia was part of Exact's strategy to get coverage for Cologuard to as many people in the US as possible. The company is in further talks with Anthem to extend coverage for the test for all its members in all states in the first half of 2016. Eventually, Conroy added on the call, he expects Cologuard to be covered by all insurers in the US, though this will take a great deal of time.