This article has been updated with additional information from the US Department of Veterans Affairs about the future of its PGx testing program.
NEW YORK – The US Department of Veterans Affairs announced Wednesday that it will offer no-cost pharmacogenomic testing through the end of 2025 for 16 genes to veterans receiving treatment at certain facilities.
The program is being rolled out at Veterans Integrated Service Network 4 (VISN 4) facilities, which include nine VA campuses, 46 outpatient clinics, and 16 centers across 83 counties in Pennsylvania and Delaware, as well as in areas of Ohio, West Virginia, New York, and New Jersey. In fiscal year 2023, the VA estimated that VISN 4 facilities served 315,699 veterans.
Within the PGx program, veterans will have access to testing that gauges variants in 16 pharmacogenes that can inform how well people respond to certain medications and whether they're at risk for adverse events. "PGx is intended as part of clinical care and is not a research study," the VA said in a statement announcing the program. "With this initiative, VISN 4 aims to ensure that our veterans receive the most effective medications for their specific needs, enhancing overall health and well-being."
PGx testing has been available within VA sites for several years, and 140 sites have the capability to place test orders. All VISN 4 sites have been ordering PGx testing for over a year, a spokesperson for the program said.
After 2025, pharmacogenomic testing will still be available to veterans, the spokesperson clarified, but the VA will have to absorb the cost and testing will be offered in certain settings. While the VA is still figuring out the details with experts, the spokesperson noted that after 2025, PGx testing could remain available, for example, for patients who have a history of muscle pain when they receive cholesterol medications or to avoid PGx-associated side effects in patients starting high-risk medications like chemotherapy.
The VISN 4 PGx team is hosting web-based monthly education sessions on the first Tuesday of every month to answer veterans' questions about PGx testing and what they can learn by getting tested through the program. According to the VA, the program aligns with the VA's overarching mission to improve veterans' health outcomes through innovative and personalized care.
"By offering no-cost PGx testing to veterans, we're making a significant step towards personalized care. This initiative not only empowers our veterans but also supports our healthcare providers in delivering more precise treatments," Katie Falch, VISN 4 PGx clinical pharmacy technician, said in a statement.