COLUMBUS, Ohio — Across the country, more than 2 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2024. Some Ohio lawmakers are stepping up to help Ohioans facing the disease, putting forth House Bill 24, which would let medical insurance plans cover expensive biomarker testing.

It’s a tool doctors can use to determine targeted treatment plans based on a patient’s cells. House Bill 24 would accomplish that goal and already passed the Ohio House. It now heads to the Ohio Senate.

"I was diagnosed with cancer 20 years ago," Leah McCleary said. "And am still, to this day, in active treatment. I have seen, the past 20 years, how expensive cancer treatment is and how difficult going through a cancer diagnosis can be for the patient."

McCleary was diagnosed at 9 years old and has previously received biomarker testing. It’s a procedure that can cost thousands of dollars, and the goal is to examine the patient's genes to either detect cancer or help create an ongoing treatment plan.

"It was devastating to hear the words you have cancer at such a young age," McCleary said. "I have gone through hundreds of surgeries, thousands of biopsies. And 89 of those surgeries have been from the neck up alone so far. Chemotherapy and the list of treatments can go on and on."

However, McCleary does not think the patients should have to foot the bill, which is why she’s a proponent of Ohio House Bill 24. It passed the Ohio House chamber earlier this year and would ensure biomarker testing is covered by Medicaid, and all other state-regulated insurance plans, when patients need it.

"Passing these pieces of legislation directly impacts me," McCleary said. "And it impacts my family, and it gives me more time to live, more time to make memories with my son."

"I’m a cancer helper," said Joe Davidson, McCleary's young son.

Davidson is learning the legislative process at a young age, and he is also trying to educate Ohio Senators on how the bill could impact lives. The 7 year old understands how important it is to help out whenever possible. 

"Every morning when nobody was awake," Davidson said, "I used a chair and get my own cereal by myself."

"Cancer is not the end of your story, and you can make purpose out of that pain and speak up using your voice to advocate for others and make a difference for them, and that's important for me," McCleary said. "That's important for my son, and that's important for my family to live by that."

House Bill 24 is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday, and would need three hearings before being considered on the Senate floor.