For Patients
Jump To
Overview
We’re Here to Help
Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) — also known as biomarker testing or tumor profiling — is a method of cancer sequencing using a single test to access hundreds of cancer relevant genes and detect genomic mutations known to drive cancer growth. The mutations in your cancer’s DNA may help your doctor identify a targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or clinical trial that is right for you. The resources below can help you navigate through the Foundation Medicine testing process.
For general information about CGP testing, available treatment options, and patient videos please visit StartWithStepOne.com.
FoundationOne®CDx
FoundationOne CDx is an FDA-approved test for all solid tumors performed on a tissue biopsy. It uses CGP to search 324 genes for cancer-relevant mutations in the DNA of your tumor to help identify targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and clinical trial options that may be right for you.
FoundationOne®Liquid CDx
FoundationOne Liquid CDx is also an FDA-approved test for all solid tumors that analyzes over 300 genes from just a simple blood draw, called a liquid biopsy. FoundationOne Liquid CDx can help identify targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or clinical trial options that may be right for you.
FoundationOne®Heme
FoundationOne Heme is a laboratory developed test* for blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, and for sarcomas, that tests over 400 genes and biomarkers to identify targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or clinical trial options that may be right for you. The test can be performed on blood, bone marrow, or a tissue biopsy.
Results
What Do the Results Mean?
When testing is complete, a report will be sent to your doctor. You can also request a copy of your report by contacting us. Ask your doctor about your Foundation Medicine testing options so they can help guide treatment decisions for you.
1
Genomic Mutations
After we test your tumor tissue, blood, or bone marrow sample for gene mutations, we will report any mutations found.
2
Additional Biomarkers
We also provide information about additional biomarkers that may be associated with immunotherapy response.
3
Therapies
Alongside gene mutations and additional biomarkers, we list any targeted therapies or immunotherapies that your doctor may want to consider as a next step in your treatment.
4
Clinical Trials
We also list clinical trial options that your doctor may want to consider.
Financial Support
Making Testing Accessible
Foundation Medicine is committed to providing patients with resources and support throughout the testing process with the help of the FoundationAccess™ program. After your doctor orders a Foundation Medicine test and we receive your sample, we will contact you by phone, or mail you materials, to share important information about what you can expect as your test moves forward.
Some commercial health plans such as Cigna and many BlueCross BlueShield plans offer coverage for Foundation Medicine testing services.1 All Foundation Medicine tests are covered by Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage for qualifying beneficiaries.2 FoundationOne CDx is also covered by TRICARE for qualifying patients. FoundationOne Heme has limited commercial health plan coverage at this time.
Financial assistance is available for qualifying patients who have out-of-pocket costs associated with Foundation Medicine testing.* Financial assistance is based on need and can be applied for at any time before during or after testing. Payment plans may also be available based on your financial situation.
Apply for financial assistance online or by filling out a PDF application.
*Foundation Medicine's Financial Assistance Program is only available to patients whose tests were ordered within the United States and U.S. territories.
All Foundation Medicine tests are covered by Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage for qualifying beneficiaries
FoundationOne CDx and FoundationOne Liquid CDx
If you are an Original Medicare beneficiary and you meet the following criteria, Foundation Medicine expects that you will have no out-of-pocket costs for FoundationOne CDx or FoundationOne Liquid CDx solid tumor testing:
You have either recurrent, relapsed, refractory, metastatic, or advanced (stages III or IV) cancer;
This is your first time having a FoundationOne CDx or FoundationOne Liquid CDx test for this cancer diagnosis OR this is not your first FoundationOne CDx or FoundationOne Liquid CDx test, but this is a different type of cancer, either a “new primary” cancer diagnosis or your cancer has progressed* since your prior test
You have decided to seek further cancer treatment such as therapeutic chemotherapy; and
Your testing is ordered by a treating physician.
*Repeat testing (FoundationOne®CDx, FoundationOne®Liquid CDx, or FoundationOne®Heme) after disease progression (i.e., there is evidence of a new malignant growth despite response to a prior targeted therapy) may be covered under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Coverage Decision (NCD) for qualifying Medicare beneficiaries.)
Note: If you are an Original Medicare beneficiary, you may need to sign an Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) prior to the test order. Your physician will determine if an ABN is required.
FoundationOne Heme
If you are an Original Medicare beneficiary and you meet the following criteria, Foundation Medicine expects that you will have no out-of-pocket expenses for your FoundationOne Heme testing:
You have been diagnosed with refractory/metastatic acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) or you have a suspected myeloid malignancy with an undefined cytopenia for greater than 4 months, and other possible causes have been reasonably excluded, AND
You have not previously received or are not currently receiving NGS testing on the specimen for which the test is currently being ordered, AND
You have not been tested with the same test for the same genetic content
Note: If you are an Original Medicare customer, you may need to sign an Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) prior to the test order. Your physician will determine if an ABN is required.
Foundation Medicine will work directly with your insurance company to try to obtain coverage.
Depending on the terms of your insurance plan, you may have financial responsibility for co-pay, co-insurance, or deductible as directed by your plan. Learn more about patient protections against surprise billing.
If your insurance company denies coverage, with your consent, we will work on your behalf to attempt to obtain coverage and will work with you and your doctor in pursuing appeals to minimize the financial burden.
Note: If you have private/commercial insurance, a prior authorization form may be required in some cases.
FAQs
Answers to Common Questions
-
Foundation Medicine testing looks at the genes inside your cancer cells to find mutations (also called alterations) and other biomarkers. The test results may provide potential options for you and your doctor to consider in your treatment:
Therapies you may be eligible for: We identify FDA-approved targeted therapies or immunotherapies that may help you based on the mutations and biomarkers found in your cancer. These therapies may have been approved for your cancer type or they may have been approved in other cancer types.
Rule out therapies: We look at over 300 important genes to help your doctor know which treatments may not work for you.
Clinical trials: We match your results with treatments that are currently in development through clinical trials. Talk to your doctor about which clinical trial options may be available and if you might qualify.
Even if you have a report with no actionable mutations, that is helpful for your doctor to know for your treatment plan, and new treatment options may become available in the future.
-
Foundation Medicine accepts all insurance plans; however, we are currently not in-network providers with all insurance plans. Through our FoundationAccess program, we complete a benefits investigation and reach out to patients whom we expect may have out-of-pocket costs. If you are uninsured, or if you have insurance and cannot afford the out-of-pocket cost, you can apply for financial assistance, and payment plans may also be available. Medicare coverage is available for FoundationOne CDx and FoundationOne Liquid CDx for eligible Medicare beneficiaries. Please contact our Client Services Team for more detailed information.
-
For patients in the United States who are paying directly (self-pay), the rates for testing are:
FoundationOne®CDx, FoundationOne®Liquid CDx, and FoundationOne®Heme: $3,500.00
PD-L1 (Immunohistochemistry): $125.00
Foundation Medicine offers a financial assistance program for qualifying patients whose tests are ordered within the United States and its territories. Payment plans may also be available. Patients may apply for financial assistance at any point in the testing process. Learn more at www.foundationmedicine.com/aid.
-
Genomic testing looks at mutations found in the tumor itself (somatic mutations). Genetic testing looks at inherited mutations that are in all cells, including the tumor, and are passed on from your parents (germline mutations). The testing offered by Foundation Medicine is a type of genomic testing called comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP). It looks for mutations in over 300 genes in the tumor with one sample. The mutations in the tumor are what may impact tumor growth, spread, and response to therapy.
Foundation Medicine testing may identify both kinds of mutations (somatic and germline), but does not distinguish between the two. If you have a Foundation Medicine test which incidentally identifies a gene mutation that is potentially germline, then genetic counseling and follow-up genetic (germline) testing can be considered by you and your doctor.
-
If you can get tested soon after your diagnosis of advanced cancer (Stage 3 or Stage 4), that can give you and your doctor a chance to follow a personalized treatment strategy right away. The testing can also be performed when your cancer has progressed or at a point when you and your doctor are looking to decide on your next treatment step. Your doctor will work with you to decide when testing may be appropriate for your specific cancer.
-
From the time we receive your biopsy or blood sample, the typical turnaround time for a Foundation Medicine test is about two weeks. The report will be delivered to your physician.
-
A copy of the report can be shared with a patient if you request it by contacting our Client Services Team at client.services@foundationmedicine.com or by calling +1 (888) 988-3639.
-
Your health information may be used and disclosed for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, and other purposes permitted or required by law. Foundation Medicine may also use your health information to create and use “de-identified” datasets and provide these datasets to biopharma partners, academic researchers and other third parties to help identify new and better treatments and to advance our understanding of how cancer treatments work. De-identified datasets means that information that could be used to identify a specific individual was removed.
Your de-identified information may be aggregated with thousands of other patients’ de-identified information to generate insights essential to accelerating new discoveries in cancer treatment and ultimately enabling better patient care. However, Foundation Medicine respects the individual rights of its patients, including a right to opt-out of disclosure of their de-identified information to third parties for future research purposes. Any de-identified information already included in a dataset created prior to your opt-out will not be impacted. If you would like to opt out, please contact Foundation Medicine at privacy@foundationmedicine.com or 1 (888) 988-3639.
Please visit Foundation Medicine’s Notice of Privacy Practices for more information on how Foundation Medicine uses your health information.
We’re Here to Help
If you didn’t find what you need or want to talk to someone further, our Client Services team is on hand to help. Call +1 (888) 988-3639 or email client.services@foundationmedicine.com.
Additional Notes
1A select number of commercial payers have developed medical policy coverage for Foundation Medicine's FoundationOne CDx and FoundationOne Liquid CDx tests for commercially-insured patients. Foundation Medicine's other CGP test (FoundationOne Heme) has limited third party payer commercial coverage. In each case, coverage is pursuant to applicable payer medical policy and patient benefit plans.
2Medicare and Medicare Advantage members have coverage of FoundationOne CDx, FoundationOne Liquid CDx and FoundationOne Heme in accordance with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) national coverage determination (NCD) criteria
*FoundationOne Heme was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Foundation Medicine. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For more information on our laboratory developed test (LDT) please see the Technical Specifications.
Important Safety Information
Select
FoundationOne CDx
For prescription use only. FoundationOne CDx is a qualitative genomic sequencing test for advanced cancer patients with solid tumors and analyzes 324 genes. It is intended to help doctors identify which patients may benefit from treatment with certain therapies or through clinical trials. Use of the test does not guarantee that a patient will be matched to a treatment or that all relevant genomic alterations will be detected. Some patients may require a biopsy which poses certain risks. For the full product labeling, including indications for use and risk information, visit StartWithStepOne.com.
FoundationOne Liquid CDx
FoundationOne®Liquid CDx is for prescription use only and is a qualitative next-generation sequencing based in vitro diagnostic test for advanced cancer patients with solid tumors. The test analyzes 324 genes utilizing circulating cell-free DNA and is FDA-approved to report short variants in 311 genes and as a companion diagnostic to identify patients who may benefit from treatment with specific therapies (listed in Table 1 of the Intended Use) in accordance with the approved therapeutic product labeling. Additional genomic findings may be reported and are not prescriptive or conclusive for labeled use of any specific therapeutic product. Use of the test does not guarantee a patient will be matched to a treatment. A negative result does not rule out the presence of an alteration. When considering eligibility for certain therapies for which FoundationOne Liquid CDx is a companion diagnostic, testing of plasma is only appropriate where tumor tissue is not available. Patients who are negative for other companion diagnostic mutations should be reflexed to tumor tissue testing and mutation status confirmed using an FDA-approved tumor tissue test, if feasible. For the complete label, including companion diagnostic indications and complete risk information, please visit www.F1LCDxLabel.com.