Protect BC Survivors From Discrimination

I received this e-mail today from the Komen Foundation and thought I'd share it with you:

You all know that there is a genetic test that can help us find out if our family history of breast cancer may be due to a genetic mutation. 

But did you know that if you are tested - and your results are positive - there are very few federal protections preventing insurance companies from denying you coverage due to your genetic condition. This has led many to forgo testing, denying them important information that could help them manage their health and the health of their families.
 
But there is something we can do to change this! The Senate is debating a bill called the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), which would make it illegal to discriminate based on genetic information.
 

http://komenpolicy.org/campaign/us_genetic_protections/xwuuesd947w6mkwd?

Some of us are registered at Komen because we did the walk .... I got the email, too. 

Thanks Laura, I will click on the link!

I got this from Komen today:

Last week we told you about GINA - the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act - which if passed would make it illegal to discriminate based on genetic information.

This protection is critical, since testing for a specific genetic mutation commonly associated with breast cancer can lead to early detection and treatment - saving countless lives.

Now we have great news. More than 16,000 of you sent letters to your Senators in support of GINA, and it paid off!
Thanks to your support, the Senate unanimously passed GINA last night (Thursday, April 25) and now the bill just needs approval from the House and the signature of the President - both of which are expected to happen quickly.

GINA prohibits discrimination by health insurers and employers on the basis of genetic information. So now, thanks to GINA, women who would otherwise have avoided genetic testing because they feared discrimination - thus being denied information that could help them manage their health or their family's health - will have protections under federal law. 

The passage of GINA is an important step that presents a great opportunity to promote personalized medicine and the use of genetic information in healthcare. This will lead to better research and development for new targeted drugs and treatments, which will save lives.

GINA will become the law of the land.  And you helped make it possible.

Thank you for your efforts,

Diane Balma
Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance