Episode Summary In this episode, Lisa Schlager, the Vice President of Public Policy at FORCE, a national advocacy organization, discusses genetic testing, prevention, treatment, and legal protections for people at risk for hereditary cancer.
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Introduction: concerns of people at risk of hereditary cancer; FORCE, a national advocacy organization; and Lisa Schlager, VP of Public Policy at FORCE [00:00 - 3:15]
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Tell us about your personal journey with hereditary cancer, and how you got involved in advocacy work? [3:15 - 11:23]
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What is GINA, the Federal Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, and what protections does it offer–and fail to offer—for people living at risk of genetic disease? [11:23-14:01]
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How FORCE is advocating with state legislatures to expand anti-discrimination protections beyond those offered by federal law? [14:01 - 16:50]
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What are some specific examples of issues you're working on at FORCE to help make sure that people living at risk of hereditary cancer get the healthcare they need? [16:50 - 20:01]
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What does Medicare cover when it comes to genetic testing for hereditary cancer? [20:02 - 22:06]
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Why is it so important for healthcare providers and people to understand if they have a risk of developing hereditary cancer? [22:07 - 24:50]
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What are some resources for people who are concerned that cancer in their family could be hereditary? [24:50 - 26:33]
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What can healthcare providers do to help people understand and respond to the potential inherited risks of cancer? [26:34 - 30:53]
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Wrap-up [30:54 - 32:18]