Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act Becomes Law

On May 21, President Bush signed a very important law for the future, the one called the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GENA).

Why it’s important? Because it doesn’t allow for the results of genetic tests to influence decisions. We’re talking here about health insurance companies not being able to increase their rates when it comes to people predisposed to diseases or to deny them coverage. It also applies to decisions about employing, firing, hiring or giving compensation based on these genetic test results.

Here is the list of things it addresses:

• forbids insurance companies from denying coverage or raising premiums based on genetic information
• forbids insurers and employers from requiring a person to submit to genetic testing
• forbids discrimination against any person based on their personal or family genetic information
• prohibits labour organizations from denying membership based on genetic information
• prohibits the disclosure or purchase of genetic information by insurers or health planning companies

With genetic tests being such a commodity these days, this act will encourage even more people to take the step without fearing that they will lose their jobs or an increase in their health plan rates.

Though, as we already know, this doesn’t mean everyone will obey it. Taking someone’s DNA and testing it is not that hard and we will probably see some companies test their employees without them knowing and making decisions based on those results.