Optum Looks to Create Industry Standard for Genetic Testing Management

Optum says it hopes to create the industry standard for genetic testing benefit management programs — across all business lines and payers nationwide — with a solution that the UnitedHealth Group subsidiary is launching with Avalon Healthcare Solutions using genetic testing codes and other assets licensed from Palmetto GBA. 

The solution is part of a comprehensive laboratory benefit management program that the companies unveiled June 22. Although 99% of all lab tests conducted today are routine tests, 10 new genetic tests are coming to the market each day, says John Hoffman, vice president of payer market at Optum. He and colleagues from Optum and Avalon outlined the solution at AHIP 2022 in Las Vegas.