Genetic Testing in the C-Suite: Five Things Health System Leaders Need to Know Now

• Melissa Gonzales, President, Women’s Health, Myriad Genetics

Although genetic tests and screens have been widely available for more than 30 years now, many health system leaders continue to operate with misconceptions about precision medicine. This is a short list of myths I hear about genetic testing at the C-suite level: 

• It’s too expensive 
• It doesn’t suggest direct action  
• It’s too complicated 
• The use cases are uncertain 
• It’s intangible 

My experience in this field suggests otherwise. Lack of access to a comprehensive genetic testing program within a health care system – especially as part of a women’s health initiative – leads to underutilization and under-testing of patients who would benefit from it.  

Lack of comprehensive genetic testing also can impede population health strategies in a health system, especially if the C-suite doesn’t appreciate the way these programs can enable earlier detection, better risk stratification, more targeted interventions, and system-wide efficiencies. 

Just about every facet of genetic testing has improved markedly in the past five years. In fact, the pace of change has been so rapid that C-suites shouldn’t feel responsible for the occasional outdated opinion. But an update may be in order, especially when you consider how a genetic testing program can advance all the quadruple aim goals, from making interventions more proactive to creating more precise, personalized care that increases satisfaction and trust in your system. 

Women’s genetic testing: 5 things to know now 

As a response to common feedback I hear from health system C-suites, here are a few facts that may help create a more informed perspective.  

1. Genetic testing is a well-covered benefit. Much genetic testing is covered by insurance policies, and the associated reimbursement rarely leaves patients with large out-of-pocket charges. At my company, most patients with commercial or federally funded insurance pay little to nothing out of pocket at all for their tests.¹ There are also affordable direct pay and financial assistance options available to facilitate access. 

2. Genetic testing results matter. Genetics isn’t just information for information’s sake anymore. It’s information for action’s sake. Using genetic testing can identify high-risk patients for many hereditary cancers and can lead to revised medical management that saves lives and reduces system and patient costs.² 

3. It’s orders of magnitude easier. Yes, there are just north of 20,000 protein-coding genes in the human body, but the whole sequencing game has changed recently from single genes to whole genomes. On the testing side, qualifying for and having a genetic test is often as easy for a woman as having a routine breast exam, and the information is far more specific and actionable. 

4. The use cases are multiplying. Every day new applications for genetic testing come to light. It takes an average of 4.9 years to diagnose a rare disease after birth³, but with genetic testing you can uncover a child’s likelihood of having a rare disease prior to birth. Interventions can change the course of that child’s life and significantly reduce the associated lifetime costs as well. 

5. It’s real. Yes, negotiating for drugs or medical devices feels more concrete than genetic tests. Yet genetic testing is as tangible in its impact as a blockbuster drug. The information has enormous long-term diagnostic and predictive value over the course of a patient’s life. Also remember that most women drive the healthcare decisions for themselves and their families.⁴ 

Realize all the benefits. Choose the right provider. 

If you’re hoping to realize all the benefits of genetic testing in your system, look for a test provider that brings the right capabilities to the table. Here are a few I would stress. 

• Consistency. This would include consistency in the accuracy of your results, the delivery of your results, the timeliness of your results, and the efficiencies associated with the whole workflow.  

• A continuous stream of innovation. The right genetic testing lab will constantly be in front of – and innovating around – their clinical areas of focus. So ask to see some examples. 

• Focus on patient experience. High-quality patient education, board certified genetic counselors, and a smooth testing process work together to increase patients’ confidence in the testing you do. Women in particular are highly empowered consumers¹ and are out there looking for answers throughout their stages of life, so the right vendor should help you anticipate what they’ll want to know. Positive experiences like these can reflect well on retention as well as your own patient satisfaction scores. 

From point in time to lifetime program 

In the women’s health context, it would be highly unusual for an OB/GYN not to do a physical exam during an annual health check. The same should be true for hereditary cancer screening and genetic testing. Women deserve access to genetic insights early and consistently throughout their medical journey. Introducing them to carrier screening during the reproductive period, which is largely standard of care in the US, is a perfect way to begin a relationship that lasts throughout the lifetime of the patient. 

Think of genetic testing as a journey supported by a program, not a point-in-time event that never repeats. This longitudinal view is where genetic testing can provide timely insights that make a difference in how a woman chooses to work with her care team to manage risk factors.  

So ask yourself: do we have a comprehensive genetic testing program for the women we serve? If not, why not? The benefits of pursuing one – both to the system you manage and the women you serve – should only increase over time. 

References

1. Myriad internal data, 2023

2. Yonghong, LI, Arellano AR, Bare LA, Bender RA, Strom CM, Devlin JJ; A multigene test could cost‑effectively help extend life expectancy for women at risk of hereditary breast cancer. Value in Health. 2017 Apr;20(4):547–555. doi:10.1016/j.jval.2017.01.006.
3. EURORDIS‑Rare Diseases Europe. Major survey reveals lengthy diagnostic delays for rare disease patients. Eurordis.org. Published May 16, 2024. https://www.eurordis.org/survey-reveals-lengthy-diagnostic-delays/. Accessed June 30, 2025.
4. Carter S. Who runs the world? Women control 85% of purchases, 29% of STEM roles. Forbes. March 7, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/sites/sandycarter/2024/03/07/who-runs-the-world-women-control-85-of-purchases-29-of-stem-roles/