Introduction

The historic public-private collaborative to map and sequence the human genome is nearing completion. Significant ethical, legal, and social issues accompany these looming advances, including the potential for genetic discrimination in employment and insurance; the privacy and confidentiality of genetic information; the use of stored materials; research, including stem cell research; and the increase in testing options for newborn screening. The utilization of genetics services and the ability of public health to use genetics for effective, beneficial purposes will be influenced by the decisions of health policymakers. The Genetics Services Branch of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) are bringing together State health officials and representatives from State legislatures and governors' offices for an informational exchange on genetics policy issues. It is intended that participants will have a greater understanding of the potential uses for genetics to improve public health and the information needed to make informed policy decisions.

Goals and Objectives

The goal of the Genetics Policy Forum is to increase key policymakers' understanding of public health and genetics policy issues. To meet this goal, the following objectives have been identified. Attendees will be able to:

1. Identify health policy issues associated with recent genetic advances;

2. Identify issues that may keep the public from participating in health care services that use genetics;

3. Identify ways in which genetics is beneficial to health;

4. Become familiar with health care financing issues for genetics; and

5. Discuss potential efforts to address genetics policy issues with key policymakers from their own and other States.

Logistics

The meeting will be held on Friday, June 14th and Saturday, June 15, 2002 at the Westin Providence, One West Exchange Street, Providence, Rhode Island. The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a dinner on Friday evening and is scheduled to adjourn by 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

For further logistical details, please see the logistics page on this Web site. For further details on the meeting location, please see the location page on this Web site.

Health Systems Research, Inc. (HSR) is under contract to The Genetics Services Branch of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide logistical support for this meeting. If you have any logistical questions about the meeting, please contact our meetings assistant Martrell Kelly at (202) 828-5100 or by e-mail at mkelly@hsrnet.com.

How to Register

If you have not yet registered via fax, we request that you register for the meeting at this Web site as soon as possible. The registration deadline for this meeting is Friday, May 17th.

For further details on how to register for the meeting, please go to the registration page on this Web site.

Questions

Should you have any other questions regarding the meeting, please feel free to contact Martrell Kelly at Health Systems Research, Inc. at mkelly@hsrnet.com, or by phone at (202) 828-5100.