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Most of us probably would, because it would allow us to take preventive measures to avoid or minimize whatever conditions we face. But what if learning our genetic information would cost us our jobs or maybe our ability to get health insurance?
Once we add potential backlash to the equation, genetic testing doesn’t sound so good. That’s why a bill that recently passed Congress is so important. The legislation is called the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. It would prohibit health insurance companies from using the information to raise premiums or deny benefits for individual policies. It’s already illegal to do so in group plans.
The bill also would impose fines on employers who used genetic information to make decisions regarding hiring, firing or compensation. Fines could be up to $300,000 per violation.
Genetic testing can be a tool that can help patients, if the information is used to find the best prevention or therapy for patients with genetic dispositions toward specific diseases or conditions.
Critics of the bill say it would complicate many routine practices of employers and that the fines are excessive.
But the head of one insurance trade group had positive things to say about the bill.
“This legislation will strengthen patients’ privacy protections while preserving their access to health insurance plans’ innovative prevention and coordination programs,” said Karen Ignagni, chief executive of America’s Health Insurance Plans.
Francis S. Collins, M.D., director of the National Human Genome Research Institute National Institutes of Health, issued a statement that said in part:
“Since each of us has dozens of genetic variations that may put us at risk for
disease, we all would have had a reason to be concerned about the possible misuse
of genetic information.
With this act, Americans won’t have to worry about their jobs or their health insurance being taken away because of the genes they inherited.”
President Bush has promised to sign the bill. That’s good news, because our goal should be to provide for the best health care possible and minimize risks — not punish people for their genetic background.
