Myriad Genetics Inc., a global leader in personalized medicine, announced that the Medicare administrative contractor Palmetto GBA MolDx has issued a final local coverage determination (LCD) for the myPath Melanoma test to help physicians provide a definitive diagnosis when a suspicious skin lesion is equivocal based upon histopathology.

“We are excited that Palmetto has reviewed the extensive clinical dossier for the myPath Melanoma test and decided to cover the test for Medicare patients,” said Vicki Fish, vice president of dermatology at Myriad Genetics. “We look forward to making the myPath Melanoma test accessible to more patients so that they can obtain a definitive diagnosis and receive appropriate treatment and better health outcomes.”

Melanoma is one of the fastest growing cancers in the United States and can strike people of all ages, races, and skin types. More than one million skin biopsies are performed annually and approximately 15 percent of patients have an equivocal skin lesion. The myPath Melanoma test analyzes 23 genes and has proven to be highly accurate in multiple studies at distinguishing melanoma from benign moles.

 “There is strong demand among physicians for an objective genetic test to be used as an adjunct to historical approaches for diagnosis,” said Loren Clarke, M.D., board-certified dermatopathologist and medical director of dermatology at Myriad Genetics. “The myPath Melanoma test has enormous potential to help patients because an appropriate treatment plan begins with an accurate and definitive diagnosis.”