A Bipartisan Bill to Ban Genetic Discrimination Continues to Move Through the Congress

The House continues to move toward approving a genetic discrimination bill that would prohibit health plans from collecting genetic information and from requesting, requiring, or purchasing such information for insurance underwriting purposes.

Employers would be prohibited from using genetic information in the hiring process.

The bill is now working its way through the committee process with bipartisan House approval likely in the next few weeks. President Bush is expected to sign the bill once it makes its way through the Senate.

Opponents worry that the bill is so broadly worded that it will create a new potential for class action lawsuits.

However, the momentum is so strong—House Ways and Means approved it unanimously—that the way toward passage seems clear.