Uncategorized

Part 1: We work hard for the money (and by money, I mean $29.61) By Katie Stoll, MS, CGC In this series, we will review challenges with reimbursement for genetic counseling services. The current system undervalues genetic counseling, leading to a strain on clinics and hospitals, overutilization of genetic tests, burnout for genetic counselors, and …

Financial Challenges in the Fight for Independent Genetic Counseling Services Read More »

As a rare disease genetic counselor – who both has a rare genetic condition and serves rare disease patient populations as a provider – I have a Rare Disease Day Public Service Announcement for you: Do not order Direct-to-Consumer testing. The post Direct-to-Consumer is Direct-to-Chaos for Rare Disease Families appeared first on Gene Cuisine: satisfying …

Direct-to-Consumer is Direct-to-Chaos for Rare Disease Families Read More »

The recent update to 23andMe’s DTC test in September 2023 expanded their BRCA1/2 analysis to detect a total of 44 specific variants, including those evaluated previously1. This certainly will increase the detection of genetic variants in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes for individuals beyond those who are of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. However, given that there …

The Value of Knowledge and the Cost of False Reassurance: Understanding the Updates to 23andMe’s BRCA Genetic Testing Read More »

More than a decade since a new prenatal screening test was made available clinically. And in these years, healthcare providers have just started to agree on what to call it.  When Sequenom first launched the MaterniT21 screen for Down syndrome in 2011, this type of testing was labeled “Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis” or NIPD. The promotion …

What’s in a (Noninvasive) Name? Read More »

As we get ready to close out 2023, we reflect on and celebrate our achievements for the past year. Genetic Support Foundation continues to break down barriers to access to genetic counseling for underserved communities. From our founding, we have defined our success as every patient having equitable access to genetic counseling so each can …

A note of reflection and gratitude as we close out another year at GSF Read More »

It’s that time of year again; time for the barrage of advertisements and commercials trying to sell at home genetic testing. It’s rare to go an hour without being inundated by companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com, offering their best deal ever to provide you a crystal ball that can answer all of your lingering questions …

Think Before You Gift: At-Home Genetic Testing for the Holidays Read More »

We are honored to announce that Genetic Support Foundation (GSF) was awarded funding through the Gibbs Family Foundation to expand our no cost and subsidized genetic counseling services in the state of Wisconsin next year. Through this initiative we will be partnering with Wisconsin healthcare providers to offer genetic counseling services to their patients, while …

GSF Extends Reach Thanks to the Gibbs Family Foundation Read More »

If you have heard GSF board member, Stephanie Meredith, share her research on the experiences of patients and families who have received a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, you will be familiar with the term “flashbulb memory”.  The term flashbulb memory was introduced to describe memories of emotionally charged, traumatic or surprising events …

The Diagnosis Moment Read More »

By Katie Stoll I was invited to participate in a conference Ready or Not? The Science and Ethics of Polygenic Embryo Screening.The conference was hosted by the Polygenic Embryo ELSI Research “PEER Group”, an NHGRI-funded research consortium that aims to build an initial framework for the consideration of the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) …

Polygenic Embryo Screening: Genetic Counseling Perspectives and Commercial Incentives Read More »

By Deborah Westover, MSN, RN, CNL, CNRN & Rachel Westman, MS, CGC Dementia is a generic term commonly used to describe a decline in a person’s cognitive functioning, such as changes in their memory, judgment, or reasoning. Dementia is an umbrella term, meaning it covers a broad category of disorders that affect the brain. Dementia …

Dementia, Drugs, and DNA Read More »