Aetna 2002 Annual Report Download - page 16

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 
Aetna Chairman and CEO John W. Rowe, M.D., recommended in 
that the health insurance industry support legislation and adopt guidelines
regarding genetic testing.
Thus, Aetna became the first national health care company to advocate both new laws and new industry
protocols that support enhanced health care decision making, while respecting patient privacy in this rap-
idly evolving field. Subsequently, the American Association of Health Plans (AAHP) adopted industry
standards based largely on Aetna’s defining principles.
Genetic testing offers great promise for disease prevention and improved disease management.
Coverage of selected genetic tests not only means potentially great leaps forward in health care quality,
but also makes strong business sense. A small investment in genetic testing, when appropriate, can help
confirm or rule out a diagnosis, influence the optimal course of treatment, identify latent risks and avoid
potentially serious complications.
Health plans must keep pace in policies and processes, and can play an important role in promoting
access to clinically useful genetic testing. There is a pressing need for genetic testing coverage guidelines
that promote disease prevention and management while respecting members’ privacy and preserving
confidentiality. Aetna currently has a comprehensive policy in place for coverage decisions and covers
certain genetic tests in cases in which the results would influence the choice or course of treatment for its
fully insured customers. Aetna also offers this coverage to its self-insured plan sponsors.
Genetic Testing:
Improving Health Quality