Table 2.
Laboratory business practice characteristics.
| Emergent topics and subtopics | For-profit and not-for-profit full-service laboratories (FSL) | For-profit germline laboratories (PGL) |
Not-for-profit germline laboratories (NGL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality services | |||
| Preferred provider statusa | √ | √ | |
| State-of-the-art, first-in-class services | √ | √ | |
| Pricing | |||
| Premium pricing | √ | √b | √ |
| Low- and no-cost pricing | √c | ||
| Provider-focused strategies | |||
| Assist with prior authorization | √ | √ | |
| Easy-order web-based portals | √ | ||
| Tailored genetic test reports | √ | ||
| Provide medical genetics expertise | √ | √ | |
| Consumer/patient-focused strategies | |||
| Website engagement with ongoing feedback | √ | ||
| No-cost post-test genetic counseling | √ | ||
| Offer medical genetics consultation | √ | ||
| Marketing strategiesd | √ | ||
| Communication strategiese | √ | ||
aMeets payers’ criteria for genetic testing enabling the laboratory to avoid prior authorization requirements with possible auditing by the payer periodically.
bOnly one PGL key informant mentioned premium pricing.
cLow-cost with cash/self-pay, no-cost options for research testing or hardship cases, or no cost for cascade testing in family members.
dExamples: sales team differentiates products from competitors; marketing to nongenetics providers; payers market division for contracting.
eExamples: media/news releases; communicating with technology assessment groups; communicating with payers about their coverage policies.