PALO ALTO, Calif. — Guardant Health said its Shield blood test for colorectal cancer screening will be covered under Carelon Healthcare Services clinical guidelines beginning Nov. 15, expanding access to the FDA-approved test for eligible patients.
The company said the new Carelon policy increases the number of people ages 45 and older with insurance coverage for Shield to approximately 90 million, representing about 75% of the U.S. population eligible for colorectal cancer screening.
Shield is an FDA-approved blood test for primary colorectal cancer screening in adults ages 45 and older who are at average risk for the disease. The test allows patients to be screened through a blood draw during a routine doctor’s visit, providing an alternative to traditional screening methods.
Under the updated Carelon guidelines, eligible adults ages 45 and older who are at average risk for colorectal cancer will have access to Shield. The expanded coverage comes as colorectal cancer rates continue to rise among adults under 65, while the disease remains a leading cause of cancer death among adults younger than 50.
“Approximately 90 million people nationwide now have access to Shield, bringing the most clinically validated blood-based colorectal cancer screening option within reach for the vast majority of the eligible U.S. population,” said AmirAli Talasaz, Guardant Health co-CEO.
“As we see colorectal cancer rates continue to rise for those under 65, including younger adults, access to Shield through Carelon marks another critical milestone in our commercial expansion and broader mission to make screening more accessible,” Talasaz added.
Guardant said Shield is included in colorectal cancer screening guidelines from the American Cancer Society and National Comprehensive Cancer Network. More than 200,000 Shield tests have been performed in real-world settings, according to the company, with studies showing screening adherence of more than 90% among eligible patients.
Carelon provides medical benefit management services for health plans across 26 states, including a number of Blue Cross Blue Shield plans.
