Exact Sciences Corp. announced that the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s Center for Clinical Effectiveness “Evidence Street” recently released a positive review of Cologuard to its members.
This continues the positive momentum for Cologuard, as coverage increased by 67 percent in 2016 and nearly 163 million Americans are now in health plans that cover the non-invasive colorectal cancer screening option.
“Nearly two thirds of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies already cover Cologuard,” said Kevin Conroy, Exact Sciences’ chairman and CEO. “This review affirms that Cologuard has a positive impact on health outcomes and provides additional support for the remaining plans to offer their members our patient-friendly, non-invasive colon cancer screening option.”
The BCBSA’s Center for Clinical Effectiveness is an organization that assesses the effectiveness of medical devices, procedures, and biological products through comprehensive reviews and clinical evidence. The Evidence Street assessment follows other positive reviews of Cologuard, which is now included in the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and the colorectal cancer screening guidelines of the American Cancer Society and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
More than 70 percent of Cologuard’s addressable population is now in a health plan that covers the test, the company said. Coverage expanded by 62 million lives since June 2016, when Cologuard was included as an A-graded test in the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s final colorectal cancer screening recommendations.
