MINNESOTA
APRIL 2017
PHYSICIAN
THE INDEPENDENT MEDICAL BUSINESS JOURNAL
Volume XXXI, No. 1
High-cost patients and insurance options High-risk pools or reinsurance BY DOUGLAS L. WOOD, MD, FACC, FACP
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Genetic counselors Board licensure and an expanding role BY ASHLEY M. DECKMAN, MS, CGC, AND MELISSA R.F. TRUELSON, MS, CGC
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or almost half a century, genetic counselors have been utilizing their extensive training and expertise to provide personalized information to individuals and families regarding inherited disease. Genetic counselors play an integral role on health care teams and an expanding role in genetics and genomic medicine. The recently passed Occupational Licensing of Genetic Counselors law in Minnesota, overseen by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice, will impact this growing medical profession and the provision of patient care significantly. Genetic counselors to page 164
ive percent of patients account for about half of the total health spending in the U.S. and about 1 percent of health care claims are highdollar claims. High-cost beneficiaries are usually people with chronic health conditions and it is not uncommon that mental illness and physical illness are found together in this population. As you can imagine, heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, and musculoskeletal disorders are common. The high and rapidly rising costs of advanced biological therapies also mean that people with cancer, hematologic disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, and orphan diseases will incur very high health care costs. And, of course, those who suffer catastrophic acute illnesses or trauma can have extremely high costs. High-cost patients and insurance options to page 184