SALT LAKE CITY, June 23, 2026
Sera Prognostics Inc. welcomed new legislative action in Illinois that expands Medicaid coverage for proteomic blood testing designed to identify the risk of spontaneous preterm birth during pregnancy. The legislation amends the Illinois Public Aid Code, requiring the state’s Medicaid program to provide reimbursement for physician-prescribed proteomic blood tests used to assess preterm birth risk, along with coverage for care management services and evidence-based interventions aimed at improving pregnancy outcomes. According to the company, its PreTRM® Test is currently the only broadly validated, commercially available blood-based proteomic test specifically developed to identify spontaneous preterm birth risk early in pregnancy. The policy represents a significant advancement in expanding access to precision diagnostic technologies that enable clinicians to deliver earlier, more personalized prenatal care.
PreTRM Test Supports Earlier Identification of High-Risk Pregnancies
The PreTRM® Test is designed to provide physicians with individualized assessments of a patient’s likelihood of experiencing spontaneous preterm birth, allowing healthcare providers to implement preventive care strategies before complications develop. Clinical evidence has demonstrated that combining proteomic risk assessment with targeted interventions, including care management programs, can improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. Preterm birth remains one of the leading causes of infant illness and mortality, often resulting in prolonged neonatal intensive care, long-term developmental complications, and increased healthcare costs. By identifying patients at elevated risk earlier in pregnancy, clinicians can more effectively tailor monitoring, counseling, and intervention strategies, helping reduce adverse outcomes while supporting healthier pregnancies and newborns.
Policy Aims to Improve Maternal Health and Reduce Healthcare Costs
According to Sera Prognostics, approximately 250 babies are born prematurely each week in Illinois, with more than 13,000 preterm births recorded in 2024. Because Medicaid finances nearly half of all births in the United States, expanding access to evidence-based diagnostic testing has the potential to improve outcomes while reducing the financial burden associated with premature delivery. Illinois is estimated to have approximately 50,000 Medicaid-funded births annually, making early risk identification particularly important for improving maternal and neonatal health across the state. In addition to reimbursing proteomic testing, the legislation also supports coverage for care management services and other interventions shown to improve pregnancy outcomes, reflecting a broader shift toward preventive and value-based maternal healthcare.
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Sera Advances Precision Diagnostics in Women’s Health
The Illinois initiative further strengthens Sera Prognostics’ position in the growing MedTech and precision diagnostics market by recognizing the value of innovative biomarker-based testing in routine prenatal care. The company stated that it will continue working with policymakers, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders to support implementation as reimbursement frameworks and coverage policies are finalized. As healthcare systems increasingly adopt precision medicine approaches, diagnostic technologies such as the PreTRM® Test have the potential to transform pregnancy care through earlier risk assessment, personalized clinical decision-making, and proactive intervention. By expanding access to validated diagnostic tools, Illinois is supporting a more preventive approach to maternal healthcare while creating opportunities to improve neonatal outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and advance the adoption of innovative medical technologies in obstetric care.
Source: Sera Prognostics press release
