Senate Committee Advances Senator Boscola’s Genetic Testing Access Bills

HARRISBURG, PA – June 11, 2025 – The Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee today unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Senator Lisa M. Boscola (D-Northampton), Senate Bills 535 and 536, which would allow licensed genetic counselors in Pennsylvania to directly order genetic tests.

The two-bill package updates both the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act and the Medical Practice Act, removing outdated restrictions that currently delay patient care and increase costs.

“Last session, this General Assembly did something incredible with Act 1 of 2023 by eliminating financial barriers to life-saving BRCA-related genetic testing for high-risk women,” Boscola said. “Today, we took another step to improve access, this time by removing the procedural hurdles that delay diagnoses and drive up costs.”

Pennsylvania remains one of the few states that explicitly prohibits licensed genetic counselors from ordering genetic tests, despite their advanced education and clinical training.

“Patients should not face unnecessary delays, waiting for a doctor to sign off on a test that a qualified genetic counselor is already prepared to order,” Boscola added. “These professionals are trained to guide patients through complex decisions. This reform simply lets them do the job they’ve been licensed to do.”

The legislation has received broad support from the medical community, including the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association, St. Luke’s University Health Network, Penn State Health, and patient advocacy groups like the PA Breast Cancer Coalition.

The bills now move to the full Senate for consideration.

Information provided to TVL by:
Kuer Derr