Genetic testing bill passed

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rferraris
rferraris Member Posts: 191
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer
Genetic testing bill passed
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  • rferraris
    rferraris Member Posts: 191
    edited April 2008

    Many people may have not heard about the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) that Congress voted on last week. GINA would make it illegal to discriminate based on genetic information, it actually PASSED! 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!

    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.

    Now the bill just needs approval from the House and the signature of the President - both of which are expected to happen quickly.

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  • LisaSDCA
    LisaSDCA Member Posts: 2,230
    edited April 2008

    One more step closer!

    Lisa

    BRCA-1+

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2008

    There is a great article about this in the U.S. News and World Report:

    http://www.usnews.com/blogs/on-women/2008/04/25/new-gina-law-would-stop-genetic-discrimination.html

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited April 2008

    I'm so glad. Now they need to get rid of the pre-existing medical conditions clauses.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2008

    leaf:

    Amen!

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  • swimangel72
    swimangel72 Member Posts: 1,989
    edited April 2008

    Fantastic news!

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  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited April 2008

    Yippee!!

    I'm with you Leaf!!

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  • anaolivar
    anaolivar Member Posts: 9
    edited April 2008

    That's very good news, my doctor suggested to do that long time ago, but my supervisor at work told me to be careful because of the health insurance later on in life, but with this is great that one day we can have the test and don't have to worry about insurance denying us........

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  • TrishE23
    TrishE23 Member Posts: 35
    edited May 2008

    I just heard this today from my sister! What great news.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2008

    Update in GINA:

    From Scientific American, May 1, 2008

    "The House today passed a measure by a whopping 414-to-1 margin that would prohibit health insurers from canceling or denying coverage or hiking premiums based on a genetic predisposition to a specific disease. The legislation, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), also bars employers from using genetic information to hire, fire, promote or make any other employment-related decisions.

    Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) was the lone dissenter.

    The measure, which unanimously     passed the Senate last week, now goes to President Bush, who is expected to sign it into law."

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