Dear Legislator,
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the top 10 leading causes of mortality in the United States, and a significant number of cases are from an unknown cause. There are currently, 556,000 people in the United States on dialysis and the number is growing. Identifying why so many patients get CKD is an important part of fighting kidney disease, and genetic counseling has a powerful role to play in that endeavor.
Genetic counselors are trained and certified to interpret complex genetic information and share that information in an understandable way with patients. Currently, Medicare does not recognize genetic counselors as healthcare providers, which can leave kidney patients without access to a professional who can help them understand how their genetic makeup could impact their health or influence their choice of treatments.
The Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act of 2023 (H.R. 3876/S. 2323) would change Medicare law so the program would recognize genetic counselors as health care providers. The bill would give Medicare beneficiaries greater access to their services.
Requiring Medicare to recognize genetic counselors as providers also has an impact on private insurance. Some insurers do not cover services from a provider not recognized by Medicare, which can lead to high out-of-pocket expenses for patients requiring the services of a genetic counselor. This makes pursuing the needed medical knowledge, information, and treatment plan very difficult and it comes at a time when families are facing complex medical decisions.
Please consider cosponsoring this important legislation.
Sincerely,
[Name]
