Illinois Medicaid coverage will now include genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer. The change was announced last week and will cover testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 in women who are at high risk for developing cancer based on their family history and other factors, according to the Chicago Sun Times.
According to the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health, women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 are 3 to 7 times more likely to develop breast or ovarian cancer than other women.
Executive Director of Chicago-based Breast Cancer Network for Strength Nancy Amicangelo told the Chicago Tribune that “for women who do not have a lot of resources, this will save lives.”
