CMS to assess genetic tests for cancer diagnosis

CMS's Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) will meet on May 1 to discuss technology assessments for two types of genetic tests for cancer diagnosis. The committee will discuss the evidence for DNA- or RNA-based tests to predict the tissue of origin in patients with cancer of unknown origin, as well as for fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) tests in patients with atypical squamous cells of unknown significance or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) in cytological specimens from the uterine cervix. CMS is considering issuing National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) for genetic testing, according to a (see BioCentury, Nov. 28, 2012). ...