HB 3421
Requires certain policies and certificates of health insurance and medical assistance managed plans to cover biomarker testing with certain rules and requirements.
Jurisdiction
Oregon
Session
2025 Regular Session
Committee
Behavioral Health and Health Care
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
96%
Oppose
4%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill requires certain health insurance and medical assistance managed plans in Oregon to cover biomarker testing under specific conditions. Biomarker testing involves analyzing a patient’s tissue or blood for indicators of disease or treatment response. The coverage is contingent on the test being supported by FDA approvals, Medicare guidelines, or clinical practice guidelines. The bill also updates related Oregon laws to align with these coverage requirements.
Key provisions
- Defines ‘biomarker’ and ‘biomarker testing’ for clarity.
- Requires coverage of biomarker testing when supported by FDA approvals, Medicare guidelines, clinical practice guidelines, or consensus statements.
- Specifies that coverage must limit disruptions in patient care.
- Updates ORS 414.761 to include biomarker testing coverage for medical assistance recipients.
- Amends ORS 750.055 and 750.333 to incorporate biomarker testing requirements for health care service contractors and trusts.
- Establishes that biomarker testing is considered a ‘transaction of health insurance’ for regulatory purposes.
- Sets the effective date for new coverage requirements to January 1, 2026.
- Clarifies that the amendments to ORS 414.761 apply to medical assistance starting January 1, 2026.
Who is affected
- Health insurers
- Medical assistance recipients (OHA)
- Healthcare service contractors
- Patients undergoing biomarker testing
- Pharmaceutical companies
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsors
Cosponsors
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
The testifiers uniformly support HB 3421, which would require health insurance policies to cover biomarker testing, citing its importance in improving cancer outcomes, quality of life, and access to innovative treatments for various diseases. They emphasize the need for earlier diagnosis and targeted care, highlighting personal experiences with delayed diagnoses and improved treatment outcomes following biomarker testing. The testifiers also stress the significance of precision medicine and personalized care, with many specifically referencing Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer as areas where biomarker testing can provide critical benefits. Overall, the consensus is that HB 3421 would provide essential patient protections and improve healthcare outcomes for Oregon residents.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of HB 3421 express concerns that the bill's requirement for coverage of biomarker testing may introduce medical risk to patients by mandating unproven or inadequately validated treatments, potentially leading to unintended harm. They also argue that this increased coverage could result in significant cost increases without corresponding value or improved patient outcomes. Additionally, some testifiers suggest that the bill's provisions may not adequately address existing healthcare disparities and may disproportionately burden already vulnerable populations, further exacerbating access inequities.