Georgia

Genetic Testing

Goals

To standardize and reduce genetic testing costs. To simplify billing and the acquisition of genetic testing statistics. To standardize time frames involved in genetic testing and to shift the administrative function of scheduling clientele for genetic testing from State CSE personnel to a vendor selected in a competitive bidding process.

Description

Prior to July of 1999, Georgia’s 70 CSE offices - 54 state staffed, 10 local DA staffed and 6 private vendor offices – were each free to choose any of six different qualifying laboratories to do genetic testing to resolve paternity issues.

Unsurprisingly, the per test cost from these multiple vendors varied (though generally, the cost was in the neighborhood of $200 - $210 for a "normal" three-person test), "turn-around" times varied widely and genetic testing statistics were more guesswork than anything else.

Effective July 1, 1999, after a competitive bidding process, Georgia CSE contracted with a contractor to be the DNA paternity testing entity for all 70 state offices. Georgia’s contract included more than a few innovative clauses:

• genetic testing referrals would be transmitted electronically from a referring office directly to the contractor via a secure transmission,
• contractor, not GA CSE, would be responsible for scheduling all of the parties to be drawn for testing,
• at local CSE office option, the contractor was responsible for securing a draw site in the area served by each CSE office, and
• within 35 calendar days of the date of the electronic referral, the contractor had to have a results report in the hands of the referring office in order to be paid for the genetic test. Allowances were made for bad addresses, "no-shows" and other problematic areas.

Results

Nearly a year after the contract was initiated and after the resolution of some early problems, the program has:

• standardized paternity testing costs and reduced those costs by 33%.
• standardized the time frames involved in the paternity establishment process.
• shifted the scheduling function to the contractor which has freed up time and resources for local CSE office staff. Once a case is referred, the contractor sends case members to be tested an appointment letter within 2 - 3 days after the referral is transmitted with the appointment set about 10 days from the date the appointment letter is mailed. The results report is usually mailed about 6 days from the draw date (assuming the "draw" is completed for all parties on the first appointment), and is generally received by the referring office some 22 + days from the date of the referral to the contractor.
• statistics are reported to each local office monthly and to the state office for all offices quarterly.

Location

As noted above, this contract applies to all CSE offices in Georgia, statewide. Even though blood draws are generally a thing of the past and the far less invasive buccal swab is used almost exclusively, high case volume urban offices have been pleased with the contractor having draw sites away from their offices, reducing the stress of having to deal with large numbers of clientele in their offices on draw dates.

Funding

Regular Federal matching "90/10" paternity funding.

Replication Advice

The cooperation and assistance of dedicated Information Technology staff cannot be overemphasized. "Computer related" problems arose early and in great numbers. Thankfully, all were resolved in very short time frames.

Future Plans

Since Georgia law permits and recognizes electronic signatures, GA CSE and the contractor are currently working towards the expansion of their electronic communication to allow for the delivery of paternity results electronically, further reducing time frames. We are also investigating the implementation of a "self-swab" program – a buccal swab done on a putative father by that person, himself, when they are in a local office or in court, and deny paternity or request genetic testing.