Clinical genetic testing is becoming prevalent in all areas of healthcare due to its potential to save lives by tailoring medical care and therapeutic options to each individual patient based on his/ her genetics. Alternatively, misinterpreting genetic testing results can lead to unnecessary and expensive surgeries or
therapies, resulting in devastating physical, emotional and/or financial harm to patients. As such, genetic testing should be used responsibly and appropriately to help patients by trained experts.

HB2815, co-authored by Texas House Representatives Stephanie Klick and Senfronia Thompson is legislation that seeks to create licensure for genetic counselors practicing in the state of Texas.

Genetic counselors undergo extensive training in medical genetics and guide thousands of patients and their families each year through the entire genetic testing process to ensure that: patients are aware of the risk, benefits, and limitations of testing and provide informed consent; the correct test is ordered; results are accurately interpreted; and appropriate recommendations are made for follow-up care. Non-genetics providers are more likely to order unnecessary and more expensive tests, wasting thousands of healthcare dollars, and misinterpret genetic testing results, potentially harming millions of patients. Genetic counselors provide a rare and specialized skill set and there is already a shortage of genetic counselors in Texas. Without licensure, genetic counselors require physician supervision to practice in Texas, which further restricts access to those who need it most.

Licensing genetic counselors in Texas will ensure those providing genetic counseling are educated and certified appropriately, which will help protect Texans from harm and help save health care dollars for the state, healthcare institutions, and insurance companies. Licensure will improve access to genetic counseling and testing services by drawing more qualified genetic counselors to Texas, while retaining those already practicing in the state.

Currently, 26 states issue or have approved issuing genetic counselor licenses and 21 states are proposing legislation for the same. Approving licensure for genetic counselors in Texas, the second largest state in the country, will help pave the way for the remaining states.

Help us put patients first in Texas and nationwide by signing this petition in support of HB2815.