Republicans would let employers demand workers genetic test results

[Cattledog]

https://www.statnews.com/2017/03/10/workplace-wellness-genetic-testing/


A little-noticed bill moving through Congress would allow companies to require employees to undergo genetic testing or risk paying a penalty of thousands of dollars, and would let employers see that genetic and other health information.

Giving employers such power is now prohibited by legislation including the 2008 genetic privacy and nondiscrimination law known as GINA. The new bill gets around that landmark law by stating explicitly that GINA and other protections do not apply when genetic tests are part of a “workplace wellness” program.

The bill, HR 1313, was approved by a House committee on Wednesday, with all 22 Republicans supporting it and all 17 Democrats opposed. It has been overshadowed by the debate over the House GOP proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, but the genetic testing bill is expected to be folded into a second ACA-related measure containing a grab-bag of provisions that do not affect federal spending, as the main bill does.

[Trust Buster]

1. Very scary territory. Many companies would refuse to hire an employee that they feel is a

health ticking time bomb. An unconscionable practice.

[Johnny2X2X]

2. Gataca

There's a movie about this and it's sad and horrifying.

[Submariner]

3. I thought GOP was party of get the gubmint

out of my business.

Hypocrites.

[Sherman A1]

4. The GOO is the party of getting government out

Of the business of business, privacy of individuals not so much.