NEW YORK – A bill introduced in Idaho this month seeking to delicense genetic counselors will not move ahead this legislative session.
Earlier this month, Jeff Ehlers, a Republican representing the 21st District in Idaho's House of Representatives, introduced H.B.118, which sought to repeal a state law mandating that genetic counselors obtain a professional license to practice in the state and sparked pushback from genetic counselors in Idaho and around the US.
Genetic counselors argued that the bill, if enacted, would harm patients, as licensure ensures practitioners providing genetic counseling services have proper training. The Idaho Genetic Counselors Licensing Board requires practitioners to have at least a master's degree in genetics from an accredited program, have passed a certification exam, and have paid certain fees. According to the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC), which has advocated for licensure as a means to bolster the profession's value and recognition, nearly three dozen US states have licensure laws for genetic counselors.
The proposed delicensing bill in Idaho had garnered support among certain anti-tax and anti-regulation groups, which suggested licensure was a barrier to market entry.
According to Ehlers, the bill will not advance this term. "Once we are out of session, I will work to improve the bill and determine a path forward," he said in an email.