AB686: Bill Text

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill provides for regulation and licensing for the practice of genetic counseling.

Under the bill, subject to certain exceptions, no one may practice genetic counseling, as defined in the bill, or use the title “genetic counselor” or make similar representations without a license to practice genetic counseling. A license is granted by the seven-member Genetic Counselors Affiliated Credentialing Board, created in the bill. Under the bill, the board is attached for limited purposes to the Medical Examining Board, which regulates physicians and certain other professions.

Under the bill, the board may grant an initial license to a person who has successfully completed academic requirements for genetic counseling specified in the bill, has passed an examination specified in the bill, is certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling, does not have an arrest or conviction record, and pays a fee. The bill also allows the board, for three months after the requirement in the bill to obtain a license goes into effect, to grant an initial license to practice genetic counseling to certain individuals who cannot satisfy all of the requirements described above but who satisfy certain experience and other requirements. Biennial renewal of a license requires completion of at least 30 hours of continuing education and maintenance of certification or recertification through the American Board of Genetic Counseling. The bill also includes provisions for the unlicensed temporary practice of genetic counseling and temporary licenses to practice genetic counseling.

The bill requires the board to promulgate rules to adopt the National Society of Genetic Counselors code of ethics to govern the professional conduct of genetic counselors, establish licensure renewal requirements, and establish criteria for the approval of continuing education programs and courses.

The bill includes provisions for the professional discipline of licensees, which allow the board to take certain actions against a licensee who violates certain prohibitions in the bill.

Finally, the bill also applies certain other laws, such as the law providing for confidentiality of health care records and the health care workers whistleblowers protection law, to licensed genetic counselors.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB686,1 Section 1. 15.085 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB686,2,5 15.085 (1m) (b) The public members of the podiatry affiliated credentialing board, or occupational therapists affiliated credentialing board, or genetic counselors affiliated credentialing board shall not be engaged in any profession or occupation concerned with the delivery of physical or mental health care.

AB686,2 Section 2. 15.406 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB686,3,2 15.406 (7) Genetic counselors affiliated credentialing board. There is created in the department of safety and professional services, attached to the medical examining board, a genetic counselors affiliated credentialing board consisting of the following members appointed for 4-year terms:

AB686,3,3 (a) Four genetic counselors who are licensed under subch. VIII of ch. 448.

AB686,3,5 (b) Two members who are licensed to practice medicine and surgery under subch. II of ch. 448, at least one of whom is a clinical geneticist.

AB686,3,6 (c) One public member.

AB686,3 Section 3. 48.981 (2) (a) 20m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB686,3,8 48.981 (2) (a) 20m. A genetic counselor.

AB686,4 Section 4. 146.81 (1) (eu) of the statutes is created to read:

AB686,3,10 146.81 (1) (eu) A genetic counselor licensed under subch. VIII of ch. 448.

AB686,5 Section 5. 146.997 (1) (d) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB686,3,13 146.997 (1) (d) 4. A physician, podiatrist, perfusionist, physical therapist, or physical therapist assistant, or genetic counselor licensed under ch. 448.

AB686,6 Section 6. 155.01 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB686,3,24 155.01 (7) “Health care provider" means a nurse licensed or permitted under ch. 441, a chiropractor licensed under ch. 446, a dentist licensed under ch. 447, a physician, physician assistant, perfusionist, podiatrist, physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, occupational therapist, or occupational therapy assistant, or genetic counselor licensed under ch. 448, a person practicing Christian Science treatment, an optometrist licensed under ch. 449, a psychologist licensed under ch. 455, a partnership thereof, a corporation or limited liability company thereof that provides health care services, a cooperative health care association organized under s. 185.981 that directly provides services through salaried employees in its own facility, or a home health agency, as defined in s. 50.49 (1) (a).

AB686,7 Section 7. 252.14 (1) (ar) 4q. of the statutes is renumbered 252.14 (1) (ar) 4n.

AB686,8 Section 8. 252.14 (1) (ar) 4s. of the statutes is created to read:

AB686,4,2 252.14 (1) (ar) 4s. A genetic counselor licensed under subch. VIII of ch. 448.

AB686,9 Section 9. 440.03 (13) (b) 30m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB686,4,4 440.03 (13) (b) 30m. Genetic counselor.

AB686,10 Section 10. 440.08 (2) (a) 37m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB686,4,7 440.08 (2) (a) 37m. Genetic counselor: November 1 of each odd-numbered year; $106.

AB686,11 Section 11. Subchapter VIII of chapter 448 [precedes 448.970] of the statutes is created to read:

AB686,4,10 chapter 448

AB686,4,11 subchapter VIII

AB686,4,13 genetic counselors affiliated credentialing board

AB686,4,14 448.970 Definitions. In this subchapter:

AB686,4,18 (1) “Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling,” “ American Board of Genetic Counseling," “American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics,” and “National Society of Genetic Counselors” include an equivalent successor organization as determined by the board.

AB686,4,19 (2) “Board" means the genetic counselors affiliated credentialing board.

AB686,4,20 (3) “Genetic counseling” means to do any of the following:

AB686,4,23 (a) Obtain and evaluate individual, family, and medical histories to determine genetic risk for genetic or medical conditions and diseases in a patient, a patient's offspring, and other family members.

AB686,5,3 (b) Discuss the features, natural history, means of diagnosis, genetic and environmental factors, and management of risk for genetic or medical conditions and diseases.

AB686,5,5 (c) Identify, coordinate, and order genetic laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies as appropriate for a genetic assessment.

AB686,5,8 (d) Integrate genetic laboratory test results and other diagnostic studies with personal and family medical history to assess and communicate risk factors for genetic or medical conditions and diseases.

AB686,5,10 (e) Explain the clinical implications of genetic laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies and their results.

AB686,5,12 (f) Evaluate a patient's or family's responses to the condition or risk of recurrence and provide patient-centered counseling and anticipatory guidance.

AB686,5,14 (g) Provide written documentation of medical, genetic, and counseling information for families and health care professionals.

AB686,5,16 (4) “Genetic counselor" means an individual who is licensed by the board to practice genetic counseling.

AB686,5,19 448.971 License required; exceptions. (1) (a) Except as provided in sub. (2), no person may practice genetic counseling unless the person is licensed under this subchapter.

AB686,6,2 (b) No person may designate himself or herself as a genetic counselor or use or assume the title “genetic associate," “genetic counselor," “licensed genetic counselor," or “registered genetic counselor," or append to the person's name the letters “G.A.," “G.C.," “L.G.C.," or “R.G.C.," or use any insignia or designation that would imply that the individual is licensed or certified or registered as a genetic counselor, or claim to render genetic counseling services unless the person is licensed under this subchapter.

AB686,6,4 (2) A license is not required under this subchapter for any of the following if the person does not claim to be a genetic counselor:

AB686,6,7 (a) Any person, such as a physician, who is lawfully practicing within the scope of a license, permit, registration, or certification granted by this state or the federal government.

AB686,6,9 (b) Any person assisting a genetic counselor in practice under the direct, on-premises supervision of the genetic counselor.

AB686,6,12 (c) A student of genetic counseling assisting a genetic counselor in the practice of genetic counseling if the assistance is within the scope of the student's education or training.

AB686,6,18 (d) A person who is licensed to practice genetic counseling in another state or country and who is providing consulting services in this state on a temporary basis, as determined by the board by rule, if the person notifies the board that he or she will be providing consulting services and of the nature and date of those services and receives authorization from the board to provide consulting services on a temporary basis under this paragraph.

AB686,6,21 (e) A person who is not licensed to practice genetic counseling in another state or country and who is providing consulting services in this state on a temporary basis, as determined by the board by rule, if the person satisfies all of the following:

AB686,6,23 1. The person is certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling or the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics.

AB686,6,25 2. The person notifies the board that he or she will be providing consulting services and of the nature and date of those services.

AB686,7,2 3. The person receives authorization from the board to provide consulting services on a temporary basis under this paragraph.

AB686,7,4 448.973 Duties and powers of board. The board shall promulgate rules to do all of the following:

AB686,7,6 (1) Adopt the National Society of Genetic Counselors code of ethics as a code of ethics governing the professional conduct of genetic counselors.

AB686,7,8 (2) Establish criteria for the approval of continuing education programs and courses required for renewal of a genetic counselor license.

AB686,7,10 (3) Establish requirements for an applicant seeking renewal of a genetic counselor license, including that an applicant has satisfied all of the following:

AB686,7,12 (a) Successfully completed at least 30 hours of continuing education in the prior 2-year period.

AB686,7,14 (b) Maintained certification from and, if applicable, achieved recertification through the American Board of Genetic Counseling.

AB686,7,16 (4) Adopt a definition of “temporary basis" for purposes of s. 448.971 (2) (d) and (e).

AB686,7,19 448.974 Licensure of genetic counselors. (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), the board shall grant a license as a genetic counselor to an applicant who does all of the following:

AB686,7,21 (a) Submits an application for the license to the department on a form provided by the department.

AB686,7,22 (b) Pays the fee specified in s. 440.05 (1).

AB686,7,24 (c) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, submits evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant does not have an arrest or a conviction record.

AB686,8,2 (d) Submits evidence satisfactory to the board that he or she has done all of the following:

AB686,8,3 1. Satisfied one of the following:

AB686,8,7 a. Successfully completed the academic and clinical requirements of and developed the practice-based competencies required by a degree-granting program in genetic counseling that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling or the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics.

AB686,8,10 b. Successfully completed a degree-granting program outside of the United States that the board determines is substantially equivalent to a program described in subd. 1. a.

AB686,8,13 2. Passed an examination administered by the American Board of Genetic Counseling or the genetic counseling examination administered by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics.

AB686,8,15 3. Obtained certification, maintained valid certification, and, if applicable, achieved recertification with the American Board of Genetic Counseling.

AB686,8,21 (2) (a) The board may waive the requirements of sub. (1) (d) if the applicant holds an unexpired genetic counselor license issued by another state or territory or foreign country or province and the requirements for licensure and for renewal of a genetic counselor license of such other state or territory or foreign country or province are deemed by the board to be substantially equivalent to the requirements for licensure and for renewal of a genetic counselor license of this state.

AB686,8,23 (b) The board may waive the requirements of sub. (1) (d) if the applicant does all of the following:

AB686,8,25 1. Applies for licensure under sub. (1) by the first day of the 4th month beginning after the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date].

AB686,9,1 2. Submits evidence satisfactory to the board of all of the following:

AB686,9,3 a. Having at least 10 years of documented work experience practicing genetic counseling.

AB686,9,5 b. Having completed, within the previous 5 years, 25 hours of continuing education approved by the National Society of Genetic Counselors.

AB686,9,7 3. Submits to the board 2 letters of recommendation, one from a genetic counselor and another from a physician.

AB686,9,11 448.975 Temporary license. (1) The board may, by rule, provide for a temporary license to practice genetic counseling for an applicant who satisfies the requirements of s. 448.974 (1) other than the examination requirement under s. 448.974 (1) (d) 2.

AB686,9,14 (2) Except as provided in sub. (3), a temporary license issued under this section expires upon granting of a license under s 448.974 (1) or on whichever of the following dates occurs first:

AB686,9,16 (a) The date that is one year after the date on which the temporary license was granted.

AB686,9,20 (b) If, after the applicant obtains a temporary license under this section, the American Board of Genetic Counseling administers the examination required under s. 448.974 (1) (d) 2. and the applicant takes the examination, 30 days after the results of the examination are issued by the American Board of Genetic Counseling.

AB686,9,25 (3) The board may, in its discretion and only once, renew a temporary license issued to a person under this section, for a period specified by the board, if the person maintains active candidate status with the American Board of Genetic Counseling. The board may require an applicant for the renewal of a temporary license to appear before a member of the board for an interview.