Bush Signs Genetic Testing Bill

The bill has enjoyed support from insurance industry groups, and they hailed the signing of the bill into law.

“With this landmark bipartisan legislation, Congress and the president have taken strong action to prohibit discrimination based on a person’s genetic makeup and to protect patients’ privacy as they pursue genetic evaluations,” Karen Ignagni, president of America’s Health Insurance Plans, Washington, says in a statement.

“This legislation also ensures that patients can continue to benefit from health plans’ innovative early detection and care coordination programs that improve the safety and quality of care,” Ignagni says.

Janet Trautwein, chief executive officer of the National Association of Health Underwriters, Arlington, Va., says the new law “will allow all Americans to make decisions about their genetic information based on their personal health needs and desires, and not the fear that gaining knowledge about their genetic makeup will be used against them.”

Trautwein is hailing the act as “an important step in advancing scientific knowledge.” She says NAHU will work with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to implement the new law.