We applaud the formation of the new and revitalized White House Cancer Moonshot, which seeks to increase screening and prevention, reduce mortality and improve the quality of life for those with cancer. We join President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in calling for more screenings and early detection efforts. 

As underscored by the President’s Cancer Panel, genetic counselors play a key role in expanding cancer screenings and doing so equitably. For individuals at higher genetic risk for cancer, genetic counselors offer a lifeline, guiding them through a complex testing process and making sense of their results. We are pleased to see the Panel’s recommendation to increase access to genetic counseling by urging Congress to pass legislation that allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to recognize genetic counselors as healthcare providers. 

We’re thrilled to see that these recommendations align with the goals of H.R. 2144/S. 1450, “The Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act.” We’d like to thank Representative Brian Higgins (D-New York), Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) and Senator Jon Tester (D-Montana) for sponsoring this bill and working closely with the National Society of Genetic Counselors. We’re also grateful for the 300+ organizations who signed on expressing their support of expanding access to genetic counseling services. Genetic counselors are proud partners in the fight against cancer.