Guardant Health announced that its Shield blood test for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening will be covered by EviCore by Evernorth starting January 1, 2027, expanding access under clinical guidelines.

The segment, part of CNN's Situation Room, features Pamela Brown providing a high-level overview of Shield's purpose and potential impact on cancer screening.

The press release includes forward-looking statements about the benefits and adoption of Shield, accompanied by standard risk disclosures.

The coverage notes Shield is a blood-based test and highlights its FDA approval status, underscoring its non-invasive approach to cancer detection.

Coverage expands Shield’s reach to eligible policyholders across 23 states, increasing the number of covered lives to about 94 million people aged 45 and older in the U.S.

Guardant Health emphasizes Shield’s clinical performance, noting superior CRC detection across stages compared to FIT and its role in boosting screening completion.

The discussion includes insights on what new testing methods could mean for patients, as explained by Dr. Lucy De La Cruz, a breast cancer surgeon.

EviCore’s policy update targets adults 45+ at average risk, aligning with rising CRC incidence among younger adults and the need for accessible non-invasive screening options.

Shield is FDA-approved for primary CRC screening in average-risk adults, highly regarded with guidelines from the American Cancer Society and NCCN, and a real-world track record of over 200,000 tests with high screening adherence.

This expansion follows prior coverage by Carelon (UnitedHealth Group) and underscores rapid insurer adoption of Shield as a preferred blood-based CRC screening option.

CNN aired an interview with Helmy Eltoukhy, CEO of Guardant Health, discussing the Shield test that screens for multiple cancers and has FDA approval.