Point32Health, the parent company of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan, has expanded its collaboration with GRAIL, LLC, a healthcare company focused on early cancer detection. This expansion aims to offer GRAIL’s innovative Galleri® multi-cancer early detection blood test to more members. The test is now available to specific Point32Health members who receive primary care with Mass General Brigham affiliated providers.
Key Highlights:
Purpose of the Test: The Galleri® test can detect signals from over 50 types of cancer, many of which currently lack recommended screening tests. When a cancer signal is detected, the test can predict its origin with high accuracy.
Benefits to Members: IBD patients from the participating practices and members of the health plan can use the SonarMD tool to monitor their GI symptoms. If the tool identifies a deteriorating condition in a patient, it evaluates their needs and enables the patient’s care teams to address them promptly, potentially preventing an emergency room visit or hospitalization.
Point32Health’s Vision: Cain A. Hayes, the president and CEO of Point32Health, emphasized the company’s commitment to offering innovative solutions that enhance the health and wellness of its members. The collaboration with GRAIL aims to provide early detection screening tests that could potentially save numerous lives.
GRAIL’s Mission: GRAIL’s primary goal is to detect cancer at an early stage when it’s most treatable. The Galleri test has shown the ability to detect a shared cancer signal across more than 50 types of cancer, with a low false positive rate of less than 1 percent.
Significance of Early Detection: Early detection and diagnosis of cancer can lead to better outcomes. The Galleri test represents a new approach to screening people for cancers before symptoms appear, potentially leading to the discovery of more cancers in earlier stages.