Genetic Testing
A couple weeks ago, the president signed legislation to reduce the potential for gene-testing results to be used against people. The new law forbids employers and insurance companies from denying employment, promotions, or health coverage to people when genetic tests show they have a predisposition to cancer, heart disease or other ailments. This is all good.
My question is “who is going to protect people from unnecessary treatment once a genetic test shows any level of predisposition?” The healthcare delivery system has demonstrated a great ability to not only treat medical conditions, but also to treat the potential for medical conditions. Americans have also shown a predisposition to try to reduce risks through diagnostic testing and medication. Hopefully, some day they will also have a predisposition to improve their diets and exercise levels to reduce these same risks.
So, will genetic testing lead to a growth in treatment of potential conditions? And, what “prophylactic treatments” will benefit plans be responsible for? I expect genetic testing will lead to more medical treatment – including a rise in the use of bioengineered drugs. This will undoubtedly be good for some, but bad for many others. I expect it will go too far, because our culture (and third-party payment model) generally looks at “more” as “better.”
In the meantime, there is one tool available for employers to use – A Purchaser's Guide to Clinical Preventive Services: Moving Science into Coverage which is currently available through the National Business Group on Health at this site: http://www.businessgrouphealth.org/benefitstopics/topics/purchasers/index.cfm. This guide was developed in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and it leverages the work of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.