Bloomfield insurer Cigna will require counseling for consumers who sign up for its genetic-testing coverage for specific health conditions, starting July 15.
Cigna began its genetic counseling program in 2013 for customers undergoing genetic testing for hereditary breast, ovarian and colorectal cancer and for a hereditary heart condition known as “long QT syndrome.”
Cigna claims to be the first national health servicer to require genetic counseling before approving coverage for genetic tests that are complex and frequently misunderstood.
“There’s a lot of information directed at consumers that can be very confusing,” said Jeffrey F. Hankoff, M.D., Cigna’s medical officer for clinical performance and quality. “Just because a genetic test is available doesn’t mean that it’s right for everyone; what’s appropriate for an individual depends on family medical history and risk factors.”
Cigna said its genetic counseling program has been successful and relies on independent board-certified genetics specialist for customers who are considering genetic testing for:
- Whole exome sequencing (WES), a complex genetic test that analyzes all of the genes and their coding sections called exons – together called the “exome;
- Hereditary cancers in addition to breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancer;
- Hereditary heart disease in addition to long QT syndrome (a heart rhythm condition that can potentially cause fast, chaotic heartbeats); and,
- Pediatric microarray analysis for children with certain developmental delays or intellectual disabilities.
The company said counseling from an independent, board-certified genetics specialist can help individuals make informed decisions about having a potentially life-altering test and can also help them understand the health implications of their test results.
