ASSUREX HEALTH IS NOW AN IN-NETWORK PROVIDER MAKING PHARMACOGENOMIC TESTING AVAILABLE TO GUIDE MORE CLINICIANS’ MEDICATION DECISIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND CHRONIC PAIN DIAGNOSES
GeneSight® Doubles Rate of Remission and Response, Lowers Healthcare Costs
Mason, OH – April 23, 2013 – Assurex Health, a leading personalized medicine company providing treatment decision support for neuropsychiatric disorders, announced today that it has joined The Alliance network. Since Assurex Health is now an Alliance network provider, coverage will be at the in-network benefit level for their GeneSight pharmacogenomic test which analyzes how genetic makeup affects an individual’s response to medications for patients with depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, ADHD, and chronic pain issues.
Depression is a Major Burden for Employers and the Healthcare System
Ineffective treatment for depression is responsible for more than 200 million days lost from work in the US each year. The annual cost of untreated depression exceeds $43 billion in absenteeism from work, lost productivity, and direct treatment costs. Clinically validated treatment decision support to improve outcomes has been welcomed by thousands of clinicians as an improvement to current practice.
“We are committed to providing patients with the most advanced and proven technologies to improve their outcomes,” said Jeffrey P. Bush, Assurex Health Vice President, Payer Markets and Reimbursement. “Now thousands of patients seeking help for mental illness, pain and other neuropsychiatric disorders in the tri-state area of Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa may avoid the trial-and-error approach of medication prescribing, which is a troubling reality for many.”
GeneSight was developed by Assurex Health based on patented technology invented by Mayo Clinic and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center who continue to be technology contributors. GeneSight has a demonstrated track record with over 75,000 patients tested and is reimbursed through a number of private insurance companies and government payers. Four published, peer-reviewed clinical studies validate that patients whose treatment was guided by GeneSight experienced double the rate of remission and double the odds of response compared with treatment as usual, while reducing health care costs by 28%.
“Multiple clinical studies have now demonstrated the clinical validity and clinical utility of GeneSight, an integrated, combinatorial pharmacogenomic testing platform,” according to Bryan M. Dechairo, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs & Clinical Development at Assurex Health. “Prescribing a medication regimen that is more likely to succeed because it is tailored to an individual patient’s genetic profile can help clinicians better manage each patient’s disorder and improve clinical outcomes.”
How GeneSight Works
There are four Assurex Health products powered by GeneSight technology: GeneSight Psychotropic measures a patient’s genetic response to antidepressant and antipsychotic medications; GeneSight Analgesic matches a patient’s DNA to aid pain medication selection; GeneSight ADHD for a patient’s response to ADHD medications, including stimulant and non-stimulant medications; and GeneSight MTHFR helps determine if additional folic acid supplementation may be effective for patients with depression.
GeneSight results, available 36 hours after Assurex Health receives a patient’s cheek swab sample from a clinician, are provided in an easy-to-read, actionable composite report for healthcare providers to see which medications are optimal for an individual patient.
“I see a lot of patients in my practice that can benefit from GeneSight testing,” said Dr. Kenneth Herrmann, a clinical psychiatrist practicing in Madison, WI. “Now that Assurex Health is in The Alliance network, I’ll be able to use GeneSight to help get more patients on the right medication faster.”
About Assurex Health
Assurex Health is a personalized medicine company that specializes in pharmacogenomics and is dedicated to helping physicians determine the right medication for individual patients with neuropsychiatric and other disorders. The company was founded to commercialize industry-leading personalized medicine technology for neuropsychiatric disorders. Assurex Health has licensed technology from Mayo Clinic and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
For more information about Assurex Health, please visit www.assurexhealth.com.
About GeneSight
GeneSight is a laboratory-developed pharmacogenomic test that uses cutting edge technology to measure and analyze clinically important genomic variants in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. The results of the GeneSight report can help a clinician understand the way patients’ unique genomic makeup may affect their tolerance and response to medications indicated for their condition. The analysis is based on pharmacogenomics, the study of genomic factors that influence an individual’s response to medication treatments, manufacturers’ FDA approved drug labels, peer reviewed scientific and clinical publications, and proven drug pharmacology. Quick turnaround time, combined with a customized report of the patient’s genomic makeup, clinical experience, and other factors can provide information to help a physician make personalized drug treatment choices for each patient.
About The Alliance
Founded in 1990, The Alliance is a not-for-profit cooperative that moves health care forward by controlling costs, improving quality and engaging individuals in their health. The Alliance serves more than 200 employers who self-fund their health benefits in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa.