The Finances of Genetic Testing: Perspectives of Patients, Payers, Providers, and Clinical Labs with Michael Astion, MD, PhD

This lecture looks at the financing of genetic testing from three points of view: patient, clinical lab. and payers. The discussion focuses on the challenges and opportunities related to aligning these parties and providing medically valuable genetic testing.

Level of Instruction: Basic

Michael Astion, MD, PhD | Presenter

Medical Director, Department of Laboratories, Seattle Children’s Hospital and Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington

Dr. Astion is a clinical pathologist who is Medical Director, Department of Laboratories at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the University of Washington. His career is divided between clinical service, teaching, and research and development. He has authored more than 20 software titles, 50 peer-reviewed papers, and 75 editorials. He is working actively, through grants and intellectual property held by the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s, with the insurance industry in the United States to create utilization management rules for clinical laboratory testing. In addition, he is the Creator and one of the Founders of PLUGS, the Patient-Centered Laboratory Utilization Guidance Service, a unique service that helps hospital-based and commercial laboratories actively increase the value of lab testing through aligning with patients and the insurance industry. Dr. Astion is a frequent speaker at professional meetings, where he lectures on issues related to laboratory stewardship and management; laboratory economics and outreach; and medical errors.

Rachel Bluebond, CGC, CGC, MS | Presenter

Genomic Science Liaison II, Ambry Genetics

Rachel Bluebond joined Ambry in 2020 as the Oncology Genomic Science Liaison for the South Central Region. In her current role she serves as a clinical liaison for the field team to educate health care providers and key opinion leaders on genetic testing and genomic medicine. Rachel previously worked as a clinical oncology genetic counselor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas for 7 years and has worked with PWNHealth providing telehealth genetic counseling for 4 years. Rachel has been involved in graduate education at the UT MD Anderson UT Houston School of Biomedical Sciences. She is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors and the chair of the Billing Workgroup of the Access and Service Delivery Committee. Rachel received her Master of Medical Science degree in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling from Emory University, and is certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling.