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Exploring Barriers to Payer Utilization of Genetic Counselors

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Journal of Genetic Counseling

Abstract

Access to genetic counselors’ services is neither universal nor automatic, due in part to the gatekeeper role of healthcare payers – the companies and agencies that purchase healthcare services on patients’ behalf and control the bulk of healthcare spending. This pilot study surveyed and analyzed the relative importance of barriers to expanded payer coverage of genetic counselors’ services. Surveys were mailed to 263 medical directors and quality assurance directors at health insurance carriers throughout the United States. Respondents provided demographic information and indicated the importance of nine possible barriers, plus an optional write-in “other.” Twenty-two surveys were analyzed. “Evidence that use of genetic counselors improves health outcomes” led the list of factors having a significant/very significant influence on coverage policy. Sixteen respondents (73 %) rated this factor “4” or “5” on a Likert scale; it also received the most #1 rankings and the highest score using a weighted-mean analysis. Provider practice guidelines, CMS/Medicare regulations, and genetic counselor licensure-all of which are outside of payers’ direct control-also ranked highly. The research demonstrates that although the potential barriers to expanded reimbursement for genetic counselors are numerous and complex, some are more consistently identified as important and therefore more deserving of legislative and advocacy resources to effect change. Future research should endeavor to increase survey response and include providers as well as payers. (222 words)

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Acknowledgements

Gratitude is due to survey respondents, for taking the time to provide data that suggest a path forward; and to Boston University MS Genetic Counseling faculty and Capstone Committee members, for spirited discussion, practical help, and good humor.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Nan Doyle, Allison Cirino, Maureen Flynn and Amber Trivedi declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Graduate Medical Sciences, Boston University School of Medicine, 85 East Newton Street, M913, Boston, MA, 02118, USA

    Nan Doyle & Maureen Flynn

  2. Cardiovascular Genetics Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston,, MA, USA

    Allison Cirino

  3. InformedDNA, 360 Central Ave, St Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA

    Amber Trivedi

Authors
  1. Nan Doyle
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  2. Allison Cirino
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  3. Amber Trivedi
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  4. Maureen Flynn
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Correspondence to Nan Doyle.

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Doyle, N., Cirino, A., Trivedi, A. et al. Exploring Barriers to Payer Utilization of Genetic Counselors. J Genet Counsel 24, 122–133 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-014-9745-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-014-9745-0

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