Abstract
In a time-and-reimbursement analysis of our clinical genetics service, we documented (1) the time spent by professionals and staff in serving families before, during, and after the clinic visit; (2) the charges and reimbursement for the services provided; and (3) the relationship between income from clinical practice and the personnel costs of the clinic. We found that newly referred and returning families required 7.1 and 4.0 h, respectively. Average collections for professional services were +135 (+19/h) for new families and +49 (+12/h) for returning families. Income from clinical practice covered 37% of the clinical portion of personnel costs. These results indicate that cognitive clinical genetics services are labor intensive, yield low payments per service hour, and are not financially self-supporting. To improve the economic status of genetics clinics, administrators might consider rendering services more efficiently; increasing charges for services; billing for all services provided to all family members; billing for all genetics professionals, including counselors and social workers; and requesting payment at the time of service.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Epstein C. J., Erickson R. P., Hall B. D., Golbus M. S. The center-satellite system for the wide-scale distribution of genetic counseling services. Am J Hum Genet. 1975 May;27(3):322–332. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fraser F. C. Genetic counseling. Am J Hum Genet. 1974 Sep;26(5):636–659. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Holtzman N. A. The impact of the federal cutback on genetic services. Am J Med Genet. 1983 Jun;15(2):353–371. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.1320150225. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Myers T. L., Prouty L. A. Consumer costs for genetic services. Am J Med Genet. 1987 Mar;26(3):521–530. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.1320260303. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pyeritz R. E., Tumpson J. E., Bernhardt B. A. The economics of clinical genetics services. I. Preview. Am J Hum Genet. 1987 Oct;41(4):549–558. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rimoin D. L. The delivery of genetic services. Birth Defects Orig Artic Ser. 1977;13(6):105–123. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rollnick B. R. A time analysis of a genetic counseling delivery system. Birth Defects Orig Artic Ser. 1984;20(6):208–212. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Young R. S., Jorgenson R. J., Shapiro S. D. Efficacy of and patient preference for three counseling formats. J Craniofac Genet Dev Biol. 1986;6(1):3–14. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]