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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Assessing Genetic Counselors' Clinical Approach And Practices Regarding Pathogenic/Likely Pathogenic Variant Downgrades, Grant Bonesteele May 2021

Assessing Genetic Counselors' Clinical Approach And Practices Regarding Pathogenic/Likely Pathogenic Variant Downgrades, Grant Bonesteele

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Although rare, variant downgrades from a pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variant to a variant of uncertain significance can have a significant impact on patients and their families in the clinical cancer setting. However, there is a lack of literature about how to approach these potentially challenging cases as a genetic counselor. Therefore, we aimed to characterize genetic counselors’ experiences, approach, and practices to variant downgrade cases using an online survey. The survey asked participants how they would approach variant downgrade scenarios involving the CDH1 or ATM genes with variable family histories. Genetic counselors appear to be united in whether they would …


Evaluating Insurance Approval Rates Of Exome Sequencing And Its Effect On Minority Patients' Access To Genetic Care, Katlyn Frane May 2021

Evaluating Insurance Approval Rates Of Exome Sequencing And Its Effect On Minority Patients' Access To Genetic Care, Katlyn Frane

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Exome sequencing (ES) is often a standard step in the genetic testing process for patients with rare or complex disease. Despite clinical implementation of ES, insurance companies (payers) continue to deny this test. We investigated if the payer barrier is influenced by payer type, and if other demographic or clinical information correlated to ES approval and obtainment. To do this, a retrospective chart and clinical database review was completed on patients seen at a tertiary care center and community-based clinic. Patient demographics, clinical indications, and testing recommendations and outcomes were used to assess ES approval and obtainment. We found that …