Payers, pharmacists' key to expanding access to precision medicine and liquid biopsy | AMCP Annual 2026

Precision medicine and liquid biopsy are reshaping oncology care, but gaps in access and consistent use continue to limit their full potential. As testing options expand and become more complex, payers and providers face growing pressure to ensure patients receive the right test at the right time while managing costs, according to experts at the AMCP Annual Meeting in Nashville.

Oncology leaders from Prime Therapeutics highlighted both the promise and the ongoing challenges of these approaches. Abby Kim, Pharm.D., senior director of clinical strategy and oncology and specialty solutions, and Sneha Sharma, Pharm.D., director of specialty clinical solutions, stressed that education is a critical first step for improving access.

Kim noted that payers should build a more profound understanding of the rapidly evolving precision medicine landscape, including which cancer types benefit most and when specific tests should be used. With more tissue-based and liquid biopsy tests available, it’s important to choose the right test at the right time in a patient’s treatment to connect them with targeted therapies faster.

This approach can help improve outcomes and potentially lower long-term costs by reducing delays in care and avoiding ineffective treatments.

Liquid biopsy, in particular, is gaining traction as both a complement and, in some cases, an alternative to traditional tissue biopsy. Its ability to provide real-time insights into tumor changes makes it especially valuable in cancers such as breast and lung. However, Kim stressed that payers need to better understand when liquid biopsy should be used, whether alongside tissue biopsy or on its own and how often repeat testing is appropriate.

Sharma added that pharmacists play an important role in navigating these complexities, as policies and coverage decisions vary widely. With no consistent federal guidance, state-level legislation and payer policies can create uneven access to testing. Pharmacists in different healthcare environments can help explain these policies and assist with the right testing methods, whether using wide-ranging genomic panels or specific tests related to certain treatments.

“The goal is improving speed to therapy, improving access for that to really improve outcomes,” Kim said. “We’ve seen in several studies when payers work with providers and patients to employ those types of strategies, it actually saves money over time.”

As precision oncology continues to evolve, both speakers noted the importance of collaboration among payers, providers and pharmacists to ensure innovation translates into more timely and equitable patient care.