Varmus calls for CMS to cover genomic testing

In an editorial in Science, Weill Cornell Medical College professor and former NCI Director Harold Varmus suggested that the Obama administration direct CMS to reimburse for molecular profiling of cancers. He said the move would "vastly increase the data available for analysis, accelerate interpretation of genetic profiles, provide a test bed for true sharing of clinical information, and allow future coverage determinations by CMS to be made more quickly and sensibly."

Varmus also suggested ways to support cancer research that do not require enlarged Congressional appropriations, including a call from Vice President Biden to emphasize cancer prevention via vaccines, reduced tobacco use and control of obesity. ...