Bills, laws, rules, and regulations--implementing GINA
As a citizen of the United States, you are entitled to comment on actions being considered by your government. The issues of genetic privacy and genetic discrimination reached the forefront again this week as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released the text of a proposed rule for implementing the Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act (GINA).
Many people think that, because GINA was signed into law, they are now protected from insurance and job discrimination on the basis of their genetic information--not true. the "devil is in the details" applies here as in many other situations.
To read those details, check out the Federal Register for March 2. You can Google federal register gina eeoc to get the proper pages, as well as the information on how to comment.
I haven't checked lately to see how comments are handled by the recipient agency, but I remember that the agencies I am familiar with read all those comments, sorted them by category, and counted up the public's comments as well as those from commercial operations. You can bet that insurance companies and employment services, as well as employers, will comment--have you the energy and time to read about the potential effects on your future and that of your children and grandchildren and provide your own comments?
Marie Godfrey, PhD
Marcia is a nationally
Marcia is a nationally recognized Certified Medical Illustrator, who has earned national awards from the Association of Medical Illustrators and Rx Club, and has been invited to exhbit her work internationally. She applies her artistic skills to her knowledge of science and medicine, and is well known for a distinctive style that is colorful, clear, and accurate.
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mukesh
hipaa - hipaa
"intends to prevent" discrimination
GINA has not been tested in the courts yet, so it's difficult to claim that it actually prevents discrimination. Recently, I was rejected fro some insurance based on "family history". If that's not genetics, I'm not sure what is.
Marie Godfrey, PhD
What does GINA do
GINA prevents health insurers from denying coverage, adjusting premiums, or otherwise discriminating on the basis of genetic information. Health insurers also may not request that an individual undergo a genetic test. Similarly, employers are prohibited from using genetic information to make hiring, firing, compensation, or promotion decisions. The law also sharply limits a health insurer's or employer's right to request, require, or purchase someone's genetic information. ---------- mukesh