Genome test for blood cancers approved by Medicare & Medicaid

Medicare and Medicaid have approved a new test for two blood cancers that was developed by Washington University in St. Louis. 

Dr. Richard Cote at the School of Medicine says the test advances precision, or personalized, medicine for blood cancer treatment by identifying genetic changes in cancer cells… 

According to Dr. Cote:  “This test is a very sophisticated test which essentially looks at the entire genome of the cells that comprise certain types of blood cancers, and specifically those blood cancers are called myeloid blood cancers.” 

Demand for this test is expected to skyrocket across the U.S. now that it’s going to be covered by Medicare. 

Dr. Cote hopes to expand the test to treat other kinds of cancers in the future.