Maryland community health system expands PGx testing to all employees

Frederick Health is rare among community health systems in its pursuit of universal pharmacogenomics. The Frederick, Maryland-based organization hasn't reached its goal yet but is trying to set an example by providing pharmacogenetic testing for all of its employees for no out-of-pocket cost, as well as for many commercially insured patients in specific programs.

"We believe in this so much that we are covering our employees for the pharmacogenomics testing," said VP and Chief Information Officer Jackie Rice.

Frederick Health has an advantage in that it self-insures its staff. The organization was able to work with its insurance administrator to cover pharmacogenetic testing for all of its workers and medical staff and to negotiate affordable pricing with genomic laboratories, according to Rice.

Read the full story in GenomeWeb to learn about Frederick Health’s precision medicine program that they have rolled out to behavioral health in primary care and nutrigenomics in oncology, and future applications.