Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Provides Coverage for Biodesix’ VeriStrat Test

Blood-based proteomic test for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) now covered for another 3.8 million patients living in eastern USA

Biodesix, Inc. today announced that Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of New Jersey has determined that the VeriStrat^® proteomic test is now considered a medically necessary benefit for members with advanced NSCLC. The Horizon BCBS positive coverage position was effective as of May 10, 2016.

Providing test results within 72 hours, VeriStrat offers physicians predictive and prognostic information to guide treatment decisions in NSCLC based on a simple blood draw. Assessing the patient’s VeriStrat status prior to making treatment decisions enables physicians to avoid ineffective therapy options and to better understand the aggressiveness of the patient’s overall disease.

“Positive coverage for VeriStrat by Horizon BCBS of New Jersey has now broadened the availability of this test to approximately 205 million people across the US,” said Biodesix’ CEO, David Brunel.   “We are pleased to see yet another major health plan recognizing the medical necessity and clinical utility of VeriStrat for patients with NSCLC.”

VeriStrat can be ordered individually or as part of Biodesix Lung Reflex™. This testing strategy integrates GeneStrat™ and VeriStrat for real-time measurement of genomic and proteomic biomarkers. Biodesix Lung Reflex™ informs tumor mutation status and the impact of the “host” or patient immune response to the tumor.  Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the USA, with an estimated 221,200 new cases and 158,040 deaths due to the disease in 2015. NSCLC accounts for about 85% of lung cancer cases in the US.

Horizon BCBS of New Jersey is among the longest existing commercial health organizations in the United States. Horizon BCBS of New Jersey now joins United Healthcare (NYSE: UNH), Cigna (NYSE: CI), Aetna (NYSE: AET), Medicare and fellow Blue Cross Blue Shield plans including Florida Blue, Health Care Service Corp (HCSC- BCBS of Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas), BCBS of Louisiana, Highmark BCBS, Independence BlueCross, and CareFirst BCBS, and other state and regional health plans in covering VeriStrat for their patients. Horizon BCBS of New Jersey’s policy: https://services3.horizon-bcbsnj.com/hcm/MedPol2.nsf

VeriStrat, GeneStrat and Biodesix are trademarks or registered trademarks of Biodesix, Inc.  All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.

About Biodesix
Biodesix^® is a molecular diagnostics company advancing the development of innovative blood tests in oncology to enable precision medicine. Biodesix discovers, develops and commercializes multivariate protein and genomic diagnostic blood tests, including GeneStrat™ and VeriStrat^®, that deliver results within 72 hours. The company is changing the standard of care by providing physicians with diagnostic tests for better therapeutic guidance, more accurate prognosis and enhanced disease monitoring to improve patient outcomes. At the forefront of precision medicine, Biodesix is developing new blood tests to identify patients who may benefit from immunotherapies. In addition to developing novel diagnostics independently, the company partners with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to develop companion diagnostics for use with therapeutic agents.