“Jill’s Law,” boosted by cancer survivor, sent to Governor’s desk

Key Points

• Unanimous Approval: The Mississippi Senate passed House Bill 565, known as “Jill’s Law,” on March 4 to mandate insurance coverage for biomarker testing.
• Advocacy in Action: Olive Branch resident Ashleigh Parker, a stage 4 colon cancer survivor, provided powerful testimony on how the testing saved her life and caught recurrences.
• Precision Medicine: The bill now heads to Gov. Tate Reeves to expand access to personalized treatments for thousands of Mississippians.

JACKSON, Miss. — Legislation aimed at providing Mississippians with a clearer roadmap in the fight against cancer is one signature away from becoming law after clearing the state Senate on Wednesday.

House Bill 565, titled the “Jill Gary Eure Act” or “Jill’s Law,” passed with unanimous bipartisan support. The measure requires state-regulated health insurance plans, including Medicaid and the State and School Employees Health Insurance Plan, to cover biomarker testing. This advanced diagnostic tool allows physicians to look at the molecular level of a patient’s disease to determine the most effective treatment, a practice often called “precision medicine.”

While the bill is named in honor of the late wife of State Rep. Casey Eure (R-Saucier), its passage was fueled by the tireless advocacy of local survivors, most notably Ashleigh Parker of Olive Branch.

A Survivor’s Voice

Parker, the wife of former state Sen. Dr. David Parker, has become a prominent face for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). Her journey began in August 2019 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer that had already spread to her liver and lymph nodes.

For Parker, biomarker testing was not a luxury; it was the baseline for her survival.

“My provider team knew biomarker testing was the first step we needed to take after my colon cancer diagnosis,” Parker said during her testimony to lawmakers. “Biomarker testing showed us chemotherapy was my best treatment path. It also caught my cancer recurrence.”

Parker’s story resonated deeply within the Capitol. She noted that after her cancer went into remission, the testing later detected a small liver lesion, allowing for a liver ablation rather than more aggressive, systemic treatments. Now nearly seven years after her initial diagnosis, she remains in remission.

“I am alive, and I’m thriving, and I’m not weighed down with having treatments all the time,” Parker told the legislature. “I really want to urge all my friends in the legislature to make sure that this very important, potentially life-saving legislation is passed because all Mississippians deserve the same kind of treatment.”

Expanding Access

Currently, Mississippi is one of several states moving toward mandated coverage as the medical community shifts away from “one-size-fits-all” treatments. By identifying specific gene mutations or protein expressions, doctors can avoid prescribing expensive and grueling therapies—like certain types of chemotherapy—that are unlikely to work for a specific individual.

Kimberly Hughes, the state government relations director for ACS CAN, noted that more than 18,000 Mississippians are expected to receive a cancer diagnosis this year.

“Biomarker testing helps doctors develop a personalized treatment plan,” Hughes said. “It can help save critical time in a cancer fight.”

If signed by Gov. Tate Reeves, the mandate would apply to health benefit plans entered into or renewed on or after July 1.