Approval demonstrates unique value of Shield test for CRC screening and improves Medicare pricing
Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GH), a leading precision oncology company, today announced the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory Test (ADLT) status for the Shield™ blood test for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Shield in July 2024 as the first blood test for primary CRC screening. Medicare already covers the test.
The CMS determination confirms that the Shield test meets the criteria for ADLT status, which is reserved for innovative products that provide novel clinical information that cannot be obtained by any other method, and for FDA-approved tests. Obtaining ADLT status initiates a specific, market-based approach to pricing the test for Medicare patients. The Shield test will be reimbursed at the amount of $1,495 for Medicare patients during the initial nine-month ADLT period beginning April 1, 2025.
During the initial ADLT period, Guardant Health will collect, assess and submit private-payer payment rate data for the test, the median of which will be used by CMS to determine the Medicare pricing, beginning January 1, 2026. This rate will be the payment amount for Shield from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027.
“Obtaining ADLT status reinforces the value that our Shield blood test for colorectal cancer screening brings to patients, offering a more pleasant and convenient option that can help increase the overall screening rate and improve outcomes,” said AmirAli Talasaz, Guardant Health co-CEO. “We’ve already seen strong adoption by providers with Medicare-covered patient populations. This designation from CMS and a more favorable Medicare rate will help us bring the innovation of Shield to more patients coast-to-coast by accelerating our investments in building our commercial infrastructure.”
The Shield blood test is FDA approved for primary non-invasive screening for colorectal cancer in average-risk individuals age 45 and older. For more information, visit www.ShieldCancerScreen.com.
About Guardant Health
Guardant Health is a leading precision oncology company focused on guarding wellness and giving every person more time free from cancer. Founded in 2012, Guardant is transforming patient care and accelerating new cancer therapies by providing critical insights into what drives disease through its advanced blood and tissue tests, real-world data and AI analytics. Guardant tests help improve outcomes across all stages of care, including screening to find cancer early, monitoring for recurrence in early-stage cancer, and treatment selection for patients with advanced cancer. For more information, visit guardanthealth.com and follow the company on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook.
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