Exciting changes are coming!
The Dignity Health website is moving to CommonSpirit.org to deliver a more patient-centered digital experience across CA, AZ, and NV.
Genetic counseling and testing for cancer help you and your family better understand your inherited cancer risk. As a part of delivering precision medicine and a personalized approach to cancer care, Dignity Health – Cancer Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center has a highly-trained clinical genetic counseling service. Genetic counselors meet with patients and family members and discuss the different conditions that your or a family member might be diagnosed with, and discuss whether or not there’s a genetic background to them. As a part of genetic counseling, information can be shared about appropriate options for cancer screening, prevention, and treatment. Genetic counselors also discuss the implications for other family members and provide support.
As powerful as genetic testing can be in personalized cancer treatment, it’s not right for every cancer, or every patient, or every family member. You might want to consider speaking with a genetic counselor when you become aware of:
People with a personal or family history of cancer may benefit most from genetic counseling. The cost of the genetic counseling may be covered by insurance. When calling the program to schedule an appointment, our coordinators will review the family history and insurance information and discuss anticipated coverage and cost of genetic counseling. Genetic testing is a separate cost and discussed in more detail during the genetic counseling appointment, after the personal and family history has been reviewed in depth.
You or your physician may make a referral to the Genetic Risk Assessment Program when there is a personal or family history of:
It is ideal, and most informative, to begin the process of genetic counseling and testing with the person in the family who has been diagnosed with cancer. For many reasons, this is not always possible.
An initial genetic counseling appointment lasts 60-90 minutes. At the appointment, they will:
With the personalized medicine that we provide at Dignity Health – Cancer Institute at St. Joseph’s, genetic testing can play a role in how we tailor care to the individual. Through the genetic counseling we provide, we are able to have a positive impact on the care and treatment of our patients through:
Genetic counseling may be covered by your insurance plan. For those that do not have coverage for genetic counseling, a discount is available if payment is received the day of the genetic counseling. Our intake coordinators can speak with you about coverage and review your out-of-pocket cost for the genetic counseling.
If genetic testing is indicated, this is a separate cost and performed at an independent laboratory. Criteria have been developed to identify who would benefit from genetic testing and many insurance companies have their own criteria in place to determine coverage for genetic testing. During the appointment with the genetic counselor, options for genetic testing and coverage of genetic testing will be reviewed in detail based on your personal and/or family history.
There are federal laws in place the prevent health insurance companies and employers from discriminating based on genetic information. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), states that it is against the law to request, require or use genetic information to make decisions about your eligibility for health insurance or your health insurance premium, contribution amounts, or terms of coverage. GINA also includes legislation related to employment.
Additionally, the results of genetic testing are considered ‘Protected Health Information (PHI)’ as described in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 and release of these results is limited.
