WASHINGTON (April 27, 2026) – Last week, the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) Board of Directors visited Capitol Hill, meeting with U.S. House and Senate offices to advocate for co-sponsorship of the Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act—a bipartisan, bicameral piece of legislation that would enable access to genetic counselor services for Medicare beneficiaries.
Since its introduction by Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Kathy Castor (D-FL) in the House and Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Peter Welch (D-VT) in the Senate, nearly two dozen lawmakers have co-sponsored H.R.6280 or S.3607. If passed, the legislation would direct the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to recognize genetic counselors as providers, allowing their services to be directly Medicare-reimbursed.
“I am grateful for the expanding group of legislators who understand the value of genetic counselors for seniors and their families,” said Carrie Haverty, MS, CGC, president of NSGC. “We look forward to seeing our congressional champions advance the Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act—a simple, yet vital solution that will modernize Medicare.”
Access to genetic counselors is especially critical for Medicare beneficiaries with conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular, disease and neurological disorders. Genetic counselors help patients and their families understand testing options, support physicians in making informed care decisions, and, by identifying hereditary variants, change the health trajectory of an entire family.
“We brought the voices of more than 5,000 NSGC members directly to Washington to advocate for our profession and our patients,” said Phil Connors, MS, MPH, CGC, president-elect of NSGC. “Thank you to the genetic counselors and broader healthcare community across the country who support this important cause.”
Learn more about how genetic counselors support patients and care teams at www.AboutGeneticCounselors.com.
About the National Society of Genetic Counselors
NSGC is the leading voice, authortiy and advocate for the genetic counseling profession. Membership represents more than 5,000 masters-level health professionals, who are committed to ensuring that the public has access to genetic counseling and genetic testing. For more information, visit www.nsgc.org. To find a genetic counselor near you, visit www.FindAGeneticCounselor.org.