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Medicaid fee-for-service patients in New York are currently being denied access to Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy. TTFields is recognized by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines as standard of care for glioblastoma (GBM) and is covered by Medicare and more private insurance carriers. Yet, the New York State Department of Health continues to deny access to patients who receive fee-for-service care on Medicaid.
If you're a New York resident with a connection to brain cancer, please help us advocate for Medicaid coverage of TTFields. (Click HERE for more info.)
Action alert:
You are invited to copy and paste, customizing as needed, the letter below.
Emails can be sent separately to:
Dear [Governor Hochul / Commissioner McDonald],
Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive and life-threatening cancers, yet it is an area of high unmet medical need. Patients deserve access to all approved treatments that may extend their lives. Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) represents the first major breakthrough in over a decade, demonstrating an increase in overall survival in newly diagnosed GBM. Despite ample clinical evidence in support of the technology’s overall effectiveness and safety, the Internal Benefit Review Committee issued a final determination that TTFields would not be covered by New York State Medicaid.
This ruling continues to have consequences for one of the largest Medicaid populations in the nation and I urge that it be revisited.
Income status should not dictate who can access and benefit from a life-extending treatment. Those with commercial insurance, Medicare or VA benefits can receive coverage to access the device. However, individuals with Medicaid, many of whom already face a disadvantage when it comes to receiving effective and equitable healthcare, are currently being excluded.
Considering that TTFields is a safe and relatively user-friendly form of treatment, expanding access should be of the utmost importance to New York policy. I am asking for your help to ensure that Medicaid covers this innovative treatment modality, which can extend lives for some of New York’s most vulnerable residents.
As [an advocate / a patient / a caregiver] in this space, I respectfully urge you to provide Medicaid FFS coverage of TTFields for the treatment of GBM in New York State.
Thank you for your time,
[sign name]