Independent genetic counseling
for your patients and your practice.
Grey Genetics works with independent physicians, specialist groups, and health systems — from an occasional referral to a contracted genetic counseling service, built into your workflow.
How we work with your practice
Whether you have a large physician practice or are a solo practitioner, and whether you routinely order genetic testing or refer everything out, Grey Genetics can provide genetic counseling services, customized to fit your needs.
If you're looking for somewhere to refer the occasional patient, you can simply direct them to our website: they self-schedule and pay directly. With your patient's permission, we can send you copies of consult notes and results through secure email.
For practices that want to cover the cost of genetic counseling, we can set up a contract. Practices that cover the costs of genetic counseling for their patients tend to view it as part of a commitment to comprehensive care — and one that sets them apart in the range of services they're able to offer patients.
What we provide
Guideline-indicated genetic testing
Across oncology, cardiology, nephrology, pediatrics, and primary care, studies consistently show a significant gap between patients who meet criteria for genetic testing or referral and those who actually receive it — driven by lack of genetics training, uncertainty about when to refer, and concerns about cost.
When do guidelines say to refer?
ACOG — Any patient with a personal or family history suggesting a hereditary condition.
ACMG / NSGC — Universal expanded carrier screening for all patients considering pregnancy; referral when results may have clinical implications.
AHA / ACC — Patients with a diagnosis or clinical suspicion of an inherited cardiovascular condition, such as hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy, cardiac amyloidosis, familial hypercholesterolemia, or an inherited arrhythmia syndrome, along with their first-degree relatives.
USPSTF — Women with a personal or family history associated with increased risk for BRCA1/2 mutations.
NCCN — Patients meeting criteria for hereditary breast, ovarian, pancreatic, or prostate cancer, or Lynch syndrome (colorectal, endometrial, and related cancers), based on personal or family history. General flags include early onset (<50), rare cancer types, multiple primaries, or multiple affected relatives.
KDIGO — Consider genetic testing for CKD of unknown etiology, early-onset or familial CKD, or when APOL1 status may inform living kidney donor evaluation. Learn more about the genetics of chronic kidney disease →
AAP — Recommends exome or genome sequencing as first-line (Tier 1) testing for children with unexplained global developmental delay or intellectual disability; also relevant for pediatricians and developmental specialists evaluating a child with a suspected genetic neurodevelopmental condition.
Common barriers — and how we help
Gaps in genetics training. Genetics has never been a focus of medical training, despite growing clinical relevance across specialties. Our genetic counselors are available for case discussions when a result raises questions.
Uncertainty about when to refer. Guidelines across specialties address when to refer, but translating them to a specific patient in front of you isn't always straightforward. Grey Genetics offers a free family history review form practices can use with their patients. If you're still unsure, info@greygenetics.com.
Patient concerns about cost of testing. Guideline-indicated hereditary cancer testing, in particular, is covered far more consistently than many physicians expect. Genetic counselors handle those conversations — so coverage uncertainty doesn't have to factor into the clinical decision. One survey of U.S. nephrologists found that cost and limited test availability, not doubt about clinical value, were the most commonly cited barriers to using genetic testing, with strong interest in access to genetic counselors for both themselves and their patients (Mrug et al., Kidney Medicine, 2021).
Coverage of genetic counseling — by genetic counselors. This has been an active area of advocacy. Learn more here, and find information about current legislative efforts and easy links to contact your representatives here.
Going beyond guidelines
In some practices, patients arrive wanting whatever genetic testing might offer them — whole genome sequencing, polygenic risk scores, proactive genomic screening — regardless of whether they meet criteria for any specific test. Or they may show up and hand you a report from a test they ordered online. Many patients are asking their physicians to leap ahead into "Medicine 3.0." Some physicians simply want a trusted place to refer them. Others want to integrate genomic testing into their practice and do it well.
When a targeted test is clinically the stronger choice, we'll say so. When a patient wants to proceed with broader testing after a thorough discussion of what it can and can't tell them, we can support that too — wherever they're starting from.
What a contracted arrangement looks like
Whether your referrals are mainly guideline-driven or patient-initiated, a contracted arrangement includes:
- A dedicated private booking link for your practice
- Customized intake forms for your patients or staff during scheduling
- Secure record sharing through whatever system your practice already uses
- Agreements in place for easy sharing of consult notes and results with referring providers
- Per-patient rates below our fee schedule for recurring referral types
- A monthly maintenance fee
- Monthly invoices sent to your practice
You've built the testing program. We provide the GC layer.
Healthcare practices that have started running genetic testing in-house often find themselves without genetic counselor support from the large laboratories they'd grown to depend on. Grey Genetics can fill that gap, providing genetic counseling to patients and review of results with physicians as needed.
Overflow coverage and multi-state licensing.
When patient volume exceeds your GC's capacity, or snowbirds reveal state licensure coverage gaps, Grey Genetics can step in to support your genetic counselors as needed. As a wholly GC-owned and GC-operated company, your genetic counselors will be working directly with professional colleagues — not an account manager for whom they might need to translate their priorities.
Patient forms
Patients who can't self-schedule can sign paper copies of the required forms instead. Download them below and return the signed copies to us at info@greygenetics.com by secure email. Patients who are comfortable online can use the e-sign links.
Notice of Privacy Practices
Grey Genetics' HIPAA notice, for patients to review and sign.
Informed Consent for Telehealth
Consent to receive genetic counseling services via telehealth.
Tell us what your practice looks like
Share a few details about your practice and what you're looking for — or just send us an email.