Genetic Testing: Key Considerations for Employers

Genetic testing presents opportunities for employers to support diagnostic efforts and proactively manage disease risks, provided utilization is evidence-based and paired with expert counseling.

icon_featured_hand

September 10, 2025

More in Benefits Strategy
  • 1 | Medwave. Genetic Testing: Navigating the Complex Landscape of Coverage and Reimbursement. March 9, 2024. https://medwave.io/2024/03/genetic-testing-navigating-the-complex-landscape-of-coverage-and-reimbursement/. Accessed August 13, 2025.  
  • 2 | Minikel EV, Painter JL, Dong CC, Nelson MR. Refining the impact of genetic evidence on clinical success. Nature. 2024;629(8012):624-629. doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07316-0
  • 3 | Tung N, Ricker C, Messersmith H, et al. Selection of germline genetic testing panels in patients with cancer: ASCO Guideline. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2024;42(21):2599-2615. doi:10.1200/jco.24.00662
  • 4 | Underhill‐Blazey M, Blonquist T, Chittenden A, et al. Informing models of cancer genetics care in the era of multigene panel testing with patient‐led recommendations. Journal of Genetic Counseling. 2021;30(1):268-282. doi:10.1002/jgc4.1317
  • 5 | Halbisen AL, Lu CY. Trends in availability of genetic tests in the United States, 2012–2022. Journal of Personalized Medicine. 2023;13(4):638. doi:10.3390/jpm13040638
  • 6 | Vilhekar RS, Rawekar A. Artificial intelligence in genetics. Cureus. 2024;16(1):1-9. doi:10.7759/cureus.52035
  • 7 | Duong D, Solomon BD. Artificial intelligence in clinical genetics. European Journal of Human Genetics. 2025;33(3):281-288. doi:10.1038/s41431-024-01782-w
  • 8 | Okpete UE, Byeon H. Challenges and prospects in bridging precision medicine and artificial intelligence in genomic psychiatric treatment. World J Psychiatry. 2024;14(8):1148-1164. Published 2024 Aug 19. doi:10.5498/wjp.v14.i8.1148.
  • 9 | Corpas M, Pius M, Poburennaya M, et al. Bridging genomics’ greatest challenge: The diversity gap. Cell Genomics. 2025;5(1):100724. doi:10.1016/j.xgen.2024.100724
  • 10 | Giacomini KM, van der Graaf PH. Is pharmacogenetic testing a vital tool for enhancing therapeutic management of patients worldwide? Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 2024;116(4):885-889. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/cpt.3404
  • 11 | Business Group on Health. 2026 Employer Health Care Strategy Survey. August 19, 2025. https://www.businessgrouphealth.org/resources/2026-employer-health-care-strategy-survey. Accessed August 22, 2025.
  • 12 | Cho S. Genetic testing for hereditary colorectal cancer. LetsGetChecked. March 22, 2024. https://www.letsgetchecked.com/articles/genetic-testing-for-hereditary-colorectal-cancer/. Accessed August 14, 2025.
  • 13 | National Cancer Institute. The Genetics of Cancer. August 8, 2024. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics. Accessed August 14, 2025.
  • 14 | National Cancer Institute. BRCA Gene Changes: Cancer Risk and Genetic Testing. July 19, 2024. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/brca-fact-sheet. Accessed August 14, 2025
  • 15 | National Cancer Institute. Genetic Testing for Inherited Cancer Risk. April 18, 2024. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/genetic-testing-fact-sheet. Accessed August 14, 2025.
  • 16 | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Genomics and Your Health. Genetic Counseling. January 31, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/genomics-and-health/counseling-testing/genetic-counseling.html. Accessed August 14, 2025.
  • 17 | International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Magazine Extra: Employee Benefits Join the Genomic Revolution Toward Precision Medicine. January 24, 2024. https://blog.ifebp.org/magazine-extra-employee-benefits-join-the-genomic-revolution-toward-precision-medicine/. Accessed August 14, 2025.
  • 18 | Charnysh E, Pal S, Reader JM, et al. Health care utilization and behavior changes after workplace genetic testing at a large US health care system. Genetics in Medicine. 2024;26(8)doi:10.1016/j.gim.2024.101160
  • 19 | Jorde LB, Bamshad MJ. Genetic ancestry testing: What is it and why is it important?. JAMA. 2020;323(11):1089-1090. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.0517.
  • 20 | Nations E. Direct-to consumer genetic testing companies: Is genetic data adequately protected in the absence of HIPPA?. USC Gould's Business Law Digest. https://lawforbusiness.usc.edu/direct-to-consumer-generic-testing-companies-is-genetic-data-adequately-protected-in-the-absence-of-hippa/. Accessed August 14, 2025.
  • 21 | Hanbazazh M, Morlote D, Mackinnon AC, Harada S. Utility of single-gene testing in cancer specimens. Clin Lab Med. 2022;42(3):385-394. doi:10.1016/j.cll.2022.05.001. Accessed August 14, 2025.
  • 22 | Gray MP, Fatkin D, Ingles J, Robertson EN, Figtree GA. Genetic testing in cardiovascular disease. Med J Aust. 2024;220(8):428-434. doi:10.5694/mja2.52278. Accessed August 14, 2025.
  • 23 | Royal College of Psychiatrists. The role of genetic testing in mental health settings. October 2023. https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/improving-care/better-mh-policy/college-reports/College-report-CR237---Genetic-testing-in-mental-health-settings.pdf. Accessed August 14, 2025.
  • 24 | Sparks TN, Caughey AB. How should costs and cost-effectiveness be considered in prenatal genetic testing?. Semin Perinatol. 2018;42(5):275-282. doi:10.1053/j.semperi.2018.07.003.
  • 25 | Santoli CMA, Dotters-Katz SK, Sparks TN, Kuller JA. An overview of current prenatal genetic screening and diagnosis guidelines. Pregnancy. 2025;1: e70016. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmf2.70016. Accessed August 14, 2025.
  • 26 | Science of Biogenetics. Understanding the Role of Genetic Testing in Detecting Mental Illness – Unraveling Complex Neurological Patterns for Enhanced Diagnosis and Treatment. December 20, 2023.
  • 27 | Bishop JR, Schneiderhan ME, Butler T, Carpentier RM, Heins KR, Formea CM. Pharmacogenomics to support mental health medication therapy management: Clinical practice considerations and a conceptual framework to enhance patient care. J Am Coll Clin Pharm. 2024; 7(2): 160-170. doi:10.1002/jac5.1892.
  • 28 | Kastrinos A, Campbell-Salome G, Shelton S, Peterson EB, Bylund CL. PGx in psychiatry: Patients' knowledge, interest, and uncertainty management preferences in the context of pharmacogenomic testing. Patient Educ Couns. 2021;104(4):732-738. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2020.12.021.
  • 29 | Musunuru K, Hershberger RE, Day SM, et al. Genetic testing for inherited cardiovascular diseases: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circ Genom Precis Med. 2020;13(4):e000067. doi:10.1161/HCG.0000000000000067.
  • 30 | Stevenson JM, Smith DM, Tuteja S, Patel JN; Pharmacogenomics Global Research Network (PGRN) Publications Committee. Navigating pharmacogenomic testing in practice: Who to test and when to test. Clin Pharmacol Ther. Published online May 5, 2025. doi:10.1002/cpt.3704.
  • 31 | Employee Benefits Security Administration: Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/EBSA/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/faqs/gina.pdf. Accessed August 14, 2025.
  • 32 | Clayton EW, Evans BJ, Hazel JW, Rothstein MA. The law of genetic privacy: applications, implications, and limitations. J Law Biosci. 2019;6(1):1-36. Published 2019 May 14. doi:10.1093/jlb/lsz007.