Q: How is the
MELARIS® test
performed?
A:
The physician draws a small
amount of blood from the patient (or refers the
patient to a blood-draw facility) and then
sends it to Myriad Genetic Laboratories for
analysis via the process of
gene sequencing. |
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Q: How long
does it take to get the test results from a
patient's MELARIS®
test?
A:
You will receive your
patient's test results to share with that
patient as soon as they are available, which
can be as quickly as four weeks from the
testing date. |
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Q: Will a
patient's health insurance pay for the
MELARIS®
test?
A: Most
health insurance plans pay for MELARIS®.
Your patients can call the Myriad Reimbursement
Assistance Program (MRAP) at 800-469-7423
for more details about the reimbursement process.
MRAP can also assist patients with determining coverage
through their insurance companies. |
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Q: Can a
health insurance provider discriminate against
a patient based on his or her MELARIS® test results?
A:
A number of federal and state laws prohibit insurance discrimination to various degrees. The Health Insurance Portability Protection Act (HIPAA) recognizes genetic information as Protected Health Information (PHI) and specifies protection for the confidentiality of PHI. HIPAA also provides restrictions on health-related information in making coverage decisions and in setting premiums by group health insurers, although HIPAA does not provide such restrictions for non-group plans. HIPAA further states that genetic information in the absence of a diagnosis cannot be considered a pre-existing condition. In the federal government, executive departments and agencies are prohibited by executive order from using protected genetic information as a basis for employment decisions. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has interpreted the Americans with Disabilities act to provide some additional protections from the use of genetic information by employers. Many states have enacted additional protections against genetic discrimination in health insurance or employment or both. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act is currently awaiting final approval in the US Senate, to complete broad protection of genetic information.
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