What if an under-used type of genetic testing combined with state-of-the-art clinical decision support software could cut ER visits by more than half and reduce hospitalizations by a third in the elderly? New research has found that the YouScript Personalized Prescribing System, combining pharmacogenetic testing and patented medication management software, can do just that. Preliminary data from a soon-to-be-published study … Read More
Your HSA and you: A flexible way to cover medical expenses
You’ve likely heard the term “HSA” used when talking about health insurance plans. But what exactly is it, and what do those three letters stand for? HSA stands for “health savings account.” It’s a savings account that’s often created in connection with a high-deductible health insurance plan and is designed to help you pay medical expenses. Generally, any adult covered … Read More
Medicare coverage for specific tests ends June 22
After June 21, Medicare will limit coverage for the core drug-sensitivity genetic tests that comprise YouScript’s Polypharmacy test panel. This means that if you or a loved one are 65 or older and not taking the drugs Plavix, nortriptyline, amitriptyline or Xenazine, you will lose this Medicare benefit. Drug-sensitivity testing, also called pharmacogenetic testing, allows your doctor to know how your … Read More
The Future: Pharmacogenetics in Primary Care
Primary care physicians are in a prime position to advance the continued implementation of pharmacogenetic testing to improve patient care, according to a review article in the journal Primary Care Reports. The article, which appeared in the October issue of Primary Care Reports, makes the case that primary care physicians are ideally positioned to advise patients in a manner that … Read More
Genelex announces new genetic testing options
Genelex is excited to announce the next chapter in the company’s ongoing mission to improve patient care and reduce adverse drug events. Genelex is unveiling five new panels and 17 new genetic testing options to augment our existing panel of six tests that form the core of the YouScript Personalized Prescribing System. In conjunction with the YouScript Personalized Prescribing software, … Read More
Study: Pharmacogenomic knowledge gaps persist among physicians
More work seems needed to better familiarize physicians with the concept of pharmacogenomic testing, according to the results of a recent study. The study in the August edition of Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine found that just 12.6 percent of the 300 physicians surveyed strongly or somewhat agreed with the question, “How familiar are you with pharmacogenomics?” Study authors Johansen Taber and Dickinson report this study gels with past research on … Read More