Starting January 2027, genetic counselors could bill Medicare Part B on their own for the first time. The bill sets their pay at 85% of what a doctor would get for the same service and requires counselors to be state-licensed or board-certified.
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Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act of 2026 is a Senate bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S116-117).
Latest action on S. 3607: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S116-117)
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects Medicare patients who need genetic counseling — often older adults or people with disabilities who want help understanding genetic tests and inherited health conditions. It also directly affects genetic counselors who want to build practices serving Medicare patients, and physicians whose genetic counseling workloads could shift.
Why this matters: Genetic testing is becoming a bigger part of healthcare, especially for cancer screening and inherited conditions. But right now, Medicare doesn't pay genetic counselors directly, which can make it harder for patients to get specialized help understanding their test results. This bill could change that — but it also raises questions about costs and who should be delivering these services.
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