Abstract
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The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) has established the Evidence-Based Guidelines (EBG) Program, which is designed to develop new evidence-based guidelines in medical genetics and genomics, through a staff team to be created for that purpose.
The program is intended to address what ACMG said is the need for unbiased, evidence-based guidelines to help clinicians make the best decisions in the use of genetic and genomic testing, as well as the need to help both government and private health insurers determine coverage options for new tests and treatments.
“With the recent explosion of genetic and genomic testing, we see a strong need for evidence-based guidelines that inform decision-making and policy for stakeholders across the healthcare system,” said Phillip Febbo, M.D., chief medical officer of Illumina and an initial funding partner for the program. “ACMG has a membership with the expertise and practical clinical experience to create evidence-based, patient-oriented testing guidelines.”
Until now, ACMG has funded guideline development on an ad hoc basis—an approach the College said was no longer adequate given rapid advances in testing and technology.