Myriad Genetics Blog Myriad Genetics Blog > Ten Ways a Genetic Testing Provider Should Help Streamline Women’s Health Medical Management Operations Ten Ways a Genetic Testing Provider Should Help Streamline Women’s Health Medical Management Operations August 4, 2025 Health Systems Women's Health Rent Baxley, Senior Director of Commercial Strategy, Myriad Genetics Every health system is trying to take cost, friction and complexity out of its genetic testing operations. This can feel like an uphill battle, with healthcare costs growing north of seven percent a year.1 But many best practices exist to help reach the quadruple healthcare aim in women’s genetic testing: better patient experience, improved population health, improved provider well-being, and reduced costs. These recommendations can be part of a systematic, more holistic approach to genetic testing. Based on learned best practices and our company’s 34 years of experience as a pioneer in genetic testing, here are 10 opportunities that a testing provider should be able to deliver to help inform and streamline your women’s health medical management operations. 1. Provide both virtual and point-of-care educational resources to improve patient and provider experience Before testing, women should understand the purpose of the test or screen, what results mean, how results may change medical management, and their possible outcomes. This is all part of informed consent but also empowers better decision-making. Both before and after testing, education is a vital link in supporting interpretation and next steps. A recent Myriad Genetics study published by Obstetrics & Gynecology showed guideline-eligible patients were more than twice as likely to complete testing, 16.0% vs 34.2%, for providers that incorporated online screening and virtual patient education.2 Quick access to medical science liaisons and board-certified genetic counselors from testing companies can support patients, providers and their teams in answering timely clinical, testing, and results-related questions. 2. Drive efficiency and reduce stress by limiting redraws and repeat tests Redraws can impact medical options and patient experience, not to mention practice workflow and efficiencies. In extreme cases, long turnaround times caused by redraws may actually limit medical management options. Genetic testing laboratories should promote the highest possible sample quality at collection, provide clear pre-test instructions for patients and providers, offer as many collection options as possible, utilize robust testing assays along with the latest data, and incorporate the right cold chain infrastructure to ensure samples are not degraded during transit. 3. Deliver higher-quality results that require less reclassification The right testing provider will leverage their genetic database to classify a higher percentage of variants the first time, rather than reclassifying them years later. In addition, providers with full-gene testing versus partial-gene generate more of the consistently productive results that both patients and health care providers are seeking. 4. Provide clear, intuitive genetic results reporting for both patient and provider Pre-testing education should be simple to understand, while post-result reporting should be as clear and precise as possible to allay any confusion for providers and their patients and to manage system costs. All patients’ genetic testing reports should also come with educational tools and medical management recommendations built in. 5. Back up the testing team with highly accessible genetic counselors When providers or patients have questions, they should be able to easily contact a board-certified GC, either scheduled or on-demand, with options to have the discussion in the patient’s preferred language. Every question should be respectfully answered, whether it’s questions about a reclassified variant, a positive result, or something as simple as, “What is genetic testing?” Also helpful: vendor education videos based on the category of test and test result, with the option to connect to a GC. 6. Deliver actionable genetic insights to more of your patient population A Myriad Genetics survey found that 1 in 3 (33%) of patients age 40+ say they have not had a mammogram within the last 2 years, and that having a family history of cancer may not drive behavior change when it comes to prevention.3 A study published in JAMA in 2023 shows that even patients who had cancer types with some of the highest genetic testing rates – ovarian (38.6%) and female breast (26%) – were not tested as often as guidelines recommend.4 The right testing provider will have strategies to broaden the system’s genetic assessment capabilities without overwhelming capacity. A testing provider also should be able to provide accurate and timely hereditary cancer results for women of any ethnicity and cfDNA prenatal screening results for patients with high BMI. 7. Reduce downstream health impacts and increase patient retention Identifying women who are at higher risk for cancer encourages them to be more diligent with downstream screening tests, like MRIs. Selecting a genetic testing provider that supports the entire process makes patient assessment, education, and management easier for your healthcare organization. You also maximize the efficiency of delivering superior care in the mid and long term. 8. Build a stronger circle of care that prevents patient leakage Genetic testing labs have an important role to play in the circle of care by providing actionable medical insights that can lead to more appropriate medical management and improved patient outcomes.5 They can help to connect the dots on test results and downstream revenue from a change in medical management quickly and efficiently. They also can ensure that ordering clinicians have as positive an experience as the women being tested by providing and supporting an efficient protocol and workflow. Offering women precision medicine through genetic testing options throughout their stages of life can help improve their long-term satisfaction with their healthcare provider. 9. Create a test program that minimizes administrivia Offering a women’s health genetic testing program to their patients shouldn’t become a challenge for providers – especially for hereditary cancer – because of paperwork, prior authorization requests, and letters of medical necessity. From start to finish, in every step between receipt of order and sending out results, test providers should work with customers to create maximum ease of use in these areas. 10. Encourage better patient tracking and proactive involvement Working with systems to ensure patients are actually engaging in the genetic testing process is critical. This can include email follow-up programs with non-compliant patients – or understanding patient interactions with online price estimates, test results, and pre- and post-test consults. Achieving the quadruple aim A genetic testing provider with a systematic approach that informs women throughout their healthcare journey can help health systems achieve success across the quadruple aim – patient experience, population health, provider well-being, and reduced costs. With a thoughtful provider and robust process, genetic testing becomes a more approachable, empowering, and informed experience for everyone. References Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. National Health Expenditure Data: Historical. Updated December 2024. Accessed April 9, 2025. https://www.cms.gov/data-research/statistics-trends-and-reports/national-health-expenditure-data/historical Waldman, R, DeFrancesco, M, Feltz, J, et al. FACS. Online Screening and Virtual Patient Education for Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment and Testing. Obstetrics & Gynecology.145(2):p 177-185, February 2025 Myriad Genetics. Family cancer history still a mystery for many patient. Published October 3, 2023. Accessed March 27, 2025. https://myriad.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/family-cancer-history-still-mystery-many-patient-myriad-genetics Kurian A, Abrahamse P, Furgal A, et al. Germline genetic testing after cancer diagnosis. JAMA. 2023;330(1):43–51. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.9526 McCormick K, Calzone K. The impact of genomics on health outcomes, quality, and safety. Nurs Manage. 2016;47(4):23–26. doi:10.1097/01.NUMA.0000481844.50047.ee.