CANCER ADVOCATES CELEBRATE AS GOVERNOR SIGNS "JILL'S LAW" FOR BIOMARKER TESTING COVERAGE

The following information was released by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):

Mississippi becomes 23rd state to pass biomarker testing legislation

March 17, 2026

JACKSON, Miss. Cancer advocates are celebrating after Gov. Tate Reeves signed "Jill's Law" House Bill 565 Monday night, paving the way for increased access to biomarker testing for Mississippians with state-regulated health insurance plans. Biomarker testing is a key tool used by physicians to identify the most effective treatments for cancer and other diseases. Jill's Law ensures insurance coverage of biomarker testing keeps up with the latest science.

"We are so thankful to Mississippi lawmakers and Gov. Tate Reeves for passing and signing Jill's Law," said Kimberly Hughes, government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in Mississippi. "We have spoken with countless cancer patients and survivors who say biomarker testing made a huge difference in their treatment and know this will help increase access for Mississippians."

In the case of a cancer diagnosis, biomarker testing helps doctors develop a personalized treatment plan so some patients can access targeted treatments and avoid therapies that are unlikely to work. It can help save critical time in a cancer fight, like it did with Ashleigh Parker of Olive Branch, who advocated for the bill at the Capitol.

"After my colon cancer diagnosis, my provider team knew biomarker testing was the first step we needed to take," Parker said. "Biomarker testing showed us chemotherapy was my best treatment path. It also caught my cancer recurrence. I am here today, nearly seven years after my diagnosis, because of biomarker testing."

The legislation, known as Jill's Law, is named for Jill Eure, the late wife of Rep. Casey Eure. Jill Eure benefited from biomarker testing after her cancer diagnosis.

"I'm so honored to see such strong, bipartisan support for this important legislation and to have it named in honor of my beloved wife, Jill," Rep. Casey Eure said. "I thank Governor Reeves for signing this into law so that more Mississippi families can have the gift of time with their loved ones like we did."

More than 18,000 Mississippians will receive a cancer diagnosis this year. Mississippi is the 23rd state to pass legislation aligning insurance coverage of biomarker testing with the latest evidence.