President Trump’s top health official suggested that there would be “significant concerns” with a House bill that would allow companies to require employees to undergo genetic testing, but said the administration had not yet examined the issue.
Tom Price, the secretary of Health and Human Services, was asked about the bill on NBC’s “Meet the Press” over the weekend.
“I’m not familiar with the bill, but it sounds like there would be some significant concerns about it,” Price said. “If the department’s asked to evaluate it, or if it’s coming through the department, we’ll be glad to take a look at it.”
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Workplace wellness programs are helpful when they encourage you to manage things that are under your control, which does not include your genetic makeup.
Under HIPAA de-identified data is allowed to be used, and has value as a resource in the “Big Data” market place.
Discounts for those who provide the information are the equivalent of charges to those who chose not to comply.
There has to be some limit; and this is really one place to draw the line in the sand!
This is a bad law. It must be stopped!
This is extremely concerning. There is no solid data that that will make an impact on the general health. The genetic testing is in the stage of infancy. Very exciting but in a stage of infancy with unknown implications and interpretations. Not to exploit lay people for monetary gains by Genitic companies and insurance companies. New Lobbyists!
Genetic testing is not mandatory. Employees, however, are offered a substantial discount on health insurance premiums for submitting to the genetic testing, which is tied to a wellness program, many of which are operated by vendors not bound by the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Rep. Foxx purposely wrote the bill to tie the genetic testing to wellness programs for this reason. Employees short on cash might make a deal with the devil. H.R. 1313 is pure evil, preying on the most vulnerable population. Wealthy persons would never touch this Faustian discount.
Dear Congressmen and Senators,
I am your employer. If you pass this bill, you will be the first ones to be tested under it.
I cannot believe that that the government can make laws that take away peoples civil rights and privacy. The President and the Republicans are very “SCARY and GREEDY” people who make me think that the LORD is coming soon. What they are doing to our government is a disgrace to all American’s. We are a GREAT Country, but I fear our leaders in office now will slowly dissolve our greatness.
When you write you cannot believe the government can make such laws, I assume you are using hyperbole – it can and it has. Contact your US House Rep. about H.R. 1313 Also, go to issuevoter.org and get involved.
What’s next eugenics!! Absolutely not…the only one who would save money are employers!! NO!
This is an absurd and frightening idea! Penalize an employee financially for NOT allowing the gathering of genetic information! Just taking the information is horrendous and more than a little invasive.