The Genetic Testing ‘Bait-and-Switch’

Is it possible for a health care company to make enough people mad about their billing practices that it hurts their business? For one genetic testing company, maybe so. 

An Arm and a Leg listener Jessica got a test that’s become routine in early pregnancy: non-invasive prenatal testing. It was supposed to be $99. But then — after she took the test — that turned into $250. And when she asked questions, she was told it could go up to $800 if she didn’t pay up quick. , Jessica looked up the testing company, and found out that lots of people experienced what she called “the genetic testing bait-and-switch.”

And she’s not the only one who noticed.

When some guys on Wall Street, plus New York Times reporter Sarah Kliff, started hearing about those bills, the company found itself in some hot water. 

Here’s a transcript of the episode. 

Bonus reading:

• Sarah Kliff and Aatish Bhatia’s reporting on non-invasive prenatal testing
• A scorching report on Natera from Hindenburg Research
• Andrew Rice’s story on Hindenburg Research: "The Last Sane Man on Wall Street" 

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