UnitedHealthcare Clamping Down on Expanded Carrier Screening, Genetic Counselors, Testing Firms Say

While some professional organizations and clinicians have moved of late to embrace expanded genetic carrier screening panels, securing payor coverage for these tests remains a challenge.

This divide was recently put into sharp relief as a number of genetic counselors have voiced concerns about a perceived uptick in denials for expanded carrier screening (ECS) claims even as in February the National Society of Genetic Counselors released new practice guidelines recommending ECS “be made available for all individuals considering reproduction and all pregnant reproductive pairs.”

In particular, they added, UnitedHealthcare has clamped down on approving requests and reimbursements for such screens.