We need to work together to expand access to genetic testing
This commentary in the Genomics Law Report’s ongoing series What ELSI is New? is contributed by Jonathan T. Lord, Navigenics, Inc.
At Navigenics, we know that the future of health care rests in preventing disease, not just treating it. And we know that personalized genomics will play a big part in transforming medicine from a “sick care” system to a true health care system, allowing doctors to tailor prevention plans and treatments to meet patients’ needs.
But in order to expand access to personalized genetic testing, we must first address the most pressing question – where and how to start?
With awareness. We need to raise awareness of genetic testing and set accurate expectations. At a time of high drama around healthcare reform, much of the debate has focused on reforming health care financing and not on fundamentally changing health care. We need to do a better job at highlighting the promise and importance of genetic testing. This could involve public health campaigns or even curriculum restructuring.
There are also questions of access, not only to reliable testing services but also to follow up health care and physicians. Unless there is universal access to basic services, the offer of genetic testing inevitably creates health care disparities.
We believe that genetic testing should become a standard service, covered through 3rd party payers. But it still needs to have greater acceptance by the medical establishment. Until this occurs, the promise of any broad utility will be stifled.
There is an opportunity to make a real difference for individuals’ health and to systemically make prevention a part of the health care scene. We see a time when genetic testing is an integral element in personal health records; a time when doctors use this information to guide prevention and treatment regimens; and a time when errors in the system are dramatically reduced by this promising tool. We need to work together to make this a reality.
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