Jessie Conta Email & Phone Number

Support medical policy coverage initiatives and contracting strategies for rare disease and hereditary cancer testing.

Support insurance alignment initiatives, including medical policy development and technology assessments, legislative advocacy, stewardship tool development, and stewardship consultations.

Pickhandle Consulting is focused on making the healthcare system work better - through education of stakeholders, laboratory stewardship solutions to reduce waste and improve efficiencies, & advocacy for improved coverage and access to quality genetic counseling and testing - which will ultimately help individuals navigate the healthcare system more efficiently and cost-effectively.

Developed the genetic test stewardship program at Seattle Children's, integrating genetic counselor review of tests. Designed and maintained a tracking database to monitor program interventions and impact, including 2-day turn-around time for test review, ~30% order modification rates, and >$3M cost-avoidance. Managed growth of program from one genetic counselor to a team of five genetic counselors and genetic counseling assistants.Developed and implemented hospital-wide preauthorization policies and procedures integrated within the electronic health record and aligned with the stewardship program. Adapted procedures to incorporate payer-specific requirements, resulting in expedited authorization processes and reduced handoffs and waste. Developed denial review process to support and guide providers/families appealing medically appropriate test requests. Educational tools and tailored interventions resulted in a denial overturn rate of up to 40%.Co-led Seattle Children’s Hospital Laboratory Stewardship Committee ensuring team engagement, cross-departmental collaboration, issue resolution, and stewardship project accountability. Established and led Clinical Exome Sequencing Committee, including development of institution-specific coverage criteria, standardized processes and workflows to support access, and pilot programs to adopt novel testing approaches (e.g., rapid exome sequencing).

Seattle

Seattle Children'S Hospital

Developed, grew, and sustained innovative, national laboratory stewardship collaboration with diverse membership of >90 organizations.Established and expanded the role of genetic counselors in laboratory stewardship within pediatric and adult health systems. Authored multiple manuscripts, lay articles and abstracts about laboratory stewardship and the role of genetic counselors.Created and facilitated educational webinars and conferences for diverse audiences of laboratorians, genetic counselors, physicians, administrative leaders, and payers. Developed educational content for website, social media, and newsletter communications. Authored patient education materials related to genetic testing, insurance preauthorization, and appeals guidance.Developed and led insurance alignment initiatives, including medical policy development and technology assessments, payer education and advocacy to expand coverage with both national and government plans, and creation of administrative policies and tools to support compliant coding, streamline workflows, and support patient access to medical appropriate tests.

Ms, Genetic Counseling

Ba, Biomedical Ethics