- VaAGC: Virginia Association of Genetic Counselors
VaAGC Information
Genetic Information
The regulation of certain health care professionals is necessary to legally protect the public from harm caused by under-trained practitioners. Health care professionals, such as physicians, nurses, physician assistants and midwives, are licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Genetic counselors are not licensed. The following information is intended to help educate the public about genetic counselors and why state regulation of genetic counselors is needed.
If you are looking for general information about genetic counselors, we recommend that you click here. This link will provide you with basic information about who genetic counselors are, what they do, where they are employed in Virginia, and how they are trained.
Why hasn't licensure for genetic counselors been a concern before now? States that have passed genetic counseling licensure legislation How does the public benefit from licensing genetic counselors? What should be included a bill for licensure of genetic counselors? How much will it cost Virginia to license genetic counselors? Will licensure restrict who may provide genetic counseling services? What if I have additional questions about the Virginia Licensure Effort?Why hasn't licensure for genetic counselors been a concern before now?
The use of genetic tests in primary care has dramatically increased in the past decade since the completion of the Human Genome Project. Improvements in medical technology have allowed us to diagnose genetic conditions more accurately and more affordably. Genetic tests are now routinely used in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, internal medicine, family practice, and oncology to help patients make meaningful medical decisions. The increased availability and use of genetic tests means that the public needs corresponding increased access to health care providers who have been trained to know when it is appropriate to use the tests, how to interpret them, and how to educate families about applying the results to their medical care. Because of this, many health insurers are now requiring that a patient undergo genetic counseling prior to ordering certain genetic tests. Genetic counselors are uniquely prepared to fill this health care need.
The genetic counseling profession is relatively new compared to other health professions. The first training program began in 1969. There are currently 2500-3000 genetic counselors working in the U.S. Most states employ less than 100 genetic counselors, including the Commonwealth of Virginia. There are about 80 genetic counselors that live and/or work in Virginia. Despite these low numbers, the highly specialized nature of work performed by genetic counselors means that certain training and certification standards should be met in order to prevent harm to the public. A person who does not meet these standards can put patients at risk for serious medical mismanagement. Examples of harm include wrong or unnecessary tests being ordered, tests being misinterpreted, or tests being misapplied to medical decision-making. Without licensure, a consumer who has been harmed by sub-quality care has fewer options for legal recourse.
Genetic Counseling licensure legislation already has been passed by thirteen states. At least 25 other states are actively pursuing licensure for genetic counselors including Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Vermont, Texas and Florida.
States that have passed genetic counseling licensure legislation
- California
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Massachusetts
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Washington
- Utah
- New Jersey
- Delaware
How does the public benefit from licensing genetic counselors?
The primary benefit to the public is PROTECTION from harm by unqualified providers. These protections occur because licensure 1) defines the qualifications needed to be a genetic counselor; 2) gives the state the ability to take action against negligent genetic counselors; and 3) will ultimately increase the public's awareness of and access to health care providers who have been fully trained to provide genetic counseling services.
1. Licensure ensures that individuals who call themselves genetic counselors are truly qualified to provide that service.
A licensure bill will define the minimum training and certification process a genetic counselor must satisfactorily complete prior to providing genetic counseling services to the public. With licensure, individuals will be qualified to use the title of Genetic Counselor only after they have demonstrated that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to provide genetic counseling services. A licensure bill also generally includes a requirement that the licensee obtain continuing education to stay current in their field. Those who do not obtain continuing education cannot renew their licenses when they expire. Currently, there is no legal requirement that Virginia genetic counselors undergo specific training, certification or receive continuing education to perform their jobs. Many institutions in Virginia do not even require that their genetic counseling employees undergo a credentialing process because without licensing they are not required to do so.
2. Licensure holds genetic counselors accountable for their actions and allows for legal recourse if inappropriate care is provided.
With licensure, the Commonwealth of Virginia will legally recognize a genetic counselor's specific scope of practice and the standards for professional conduct. If a licensed genetic counselor violates the laws or rules defined by the legislation, then Virginia has the authority to take disciplinary action. Currently, there are no existing laws in Virginia or at the federal level that provide the public with a mechanism to report incompetent, unethical, unlawful behavior of a genetic counselor or to sanction a genetic counselor for proven offenses of these claims and/or for operating outside of their scope of practice.
3. Licensure will lead to increased access to quality genetic counseling services.
Licensure will not only improve the recognition of genetic counselors as health care providers by the state, but it will also allow for hospitals and health insurers to formally recognize genetic counselors as part of the patient's care team, alongside other recognized health care providers, including physicians, nurses, physician assistants, midwives, etc. Many health systems have policies that require that a provider be licensed in order to go through a credentialing process. Credentialing is important for verifying that employees are truly performing their jobs appropriately and is closely linked to an institutions billing and reimbursement system. Lack of formal recognition by a health system can even extend to difficulties in giving non-licensed providers the ability to document their patient interactions in electronic medical records.
Licensure will allow genetic counselors to become fully integrated into our existing health system. This in turn will allow health systems to recruit more genetic counselors to fulfill the growing demand for quality genetic services.
What should be included in a bill for licensing genetic counselors?
" A Masters or higher degree from a genetic counseling program accredited by the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC)
•Certification by the American Board of Genetic Counseling
•A minimum level of continuing education in order to maintain a license
•Exemption from licensure for other licensed healthcare providers whose scope of practice overlaps that of genetic counselors (e.g. physicians, masters trained nurses and physician assistants).
•Adherence to a professional code of ethics (e.g. National Society of Genetic Counselors Code of Ethics).
How much will it cost Virginia to license genetic counselors?
The regulation of any health profession has associated costs. In Virginia, the administrative costs would be absorbed by the genetic counselors (licensees) through licensure fees. The overall costs to the licensees can be minimized by having the existing Board of Medicine supervise the regulation of genetic counselors with the assistance of a Genetic Counseling Advisory Board. Since the number of licensed genetic counselors would be relatively small, the Board of Medicines workload would be only minimally increased.
Also, the state would not have to create or administer a certification exam specifically for genetic counselors. Licensure can require national certification through the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC). To learn more about the existing certification process, click here.
Will licensure restrict who may provide genetic counseling services?
Licensure is intended to protect the public from harm by unqualified providers, NOT to restrict the practice of medicine. Licensure does restrict who can use the title Genetic Counselor. However, other licensed health care professionals may continue to practice the profession for which they are trained, including providing genetic information to patients.
What if I have additional questions about the Virginia Licensure Effort?
If you have additional questions, please contact the VaAGC at info@vaagc.org.