New GOP bill would force workers to undergo mandatory genetic testing or pay thousands in fines

[KayJoy]

Source: New GOP bill would force workers to undergo mandatory genetic testing or pay thousands in fines


TOPICS:billfeaturedgeneticHR 1313Republicantesting
Posted By: Chris Walker March 10, 2017


A creepy new bill that just passed a house committee vote would allow employers to require genetic samples from their workers.

Your employer could demand detailed information about your genes, and even discriminate against you in certain circumstances, if H.R. 1313 gets passed.

Privacy of your genetic information has been the law for almost a decade. Current law mandates that genetic information cannot be obtained by an employer unless the employee voluntarily gives it up. Under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, also known as GINA, businesses cannot discriminate against current employees or make hiring decisions on future ones on the basis of their genetic makeup. They’re also forbidden “from requesting, requiring or purchasing genetic information” of their current or potential future workers.


But a bill making the rounds on Capitol Hill is hoping to change that. Employers would be allowed under H.R. 1313 to require genetic information from workers if they are part of “workplace wellness” programs.

The bill quietly passed a vote on Wednesday in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, according to STAT. All 22 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while all 17 Democrats opposed it.

The bill would also allow employers to penalize their workers financially, thousands of dollars per year, if they refuse to submit their genes to the company in a workplace wellness examination.

The proposed bill “opens the door for unscrupulous employers to misuse the information provided to them through workplace wellness programs and exposes employees to illegal discrimination,” said Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA).


H.R. 1313 now awaits a full vote in the House. Should the bill pass the House and Senate and make it to Donald Trump’s desk, it’s likely he would sign it, given his past statements about his belief in eugenics — a theory that people of certain genetic backgrounds are superior to others.

 

[Earatha]

So, this is a mix of true and false.

This bill would allow employers to give discounts to employees on their health insurance based on genetic tests that would show risks for certain diseases. This makes fiscal sense. If a genetic test comes back showing you are at lower risk of cancer or heart disease, then it would make sense that you would pay less in premiums.

It does not mandate genetic testing.

 

[Orthodoxjay1]

Source: New GOP bill would force workers to undergo mandatory genetic testing or pay thousands in fines


TOPICS:billfeaturedgeneticHR 1313Republicantesting
Posted By: Chris Walker March 10, 2017


A creepy new bill that just passed a house committee vote would allow employers to require genetic samples from their workers.

Your employer could demand detailed information about your genes, and even discriminate against you in certain circumstances, if H.R. 1313 gets passed.

Privacy of your genetic information has been the law for almost a decade. Current law mandates that genetic information cannot be obtained by an employer unless the employee voluntarily gives it up. Under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, also known as GINA, businesses cannot discriminate against current employees or make hiring decisions on future ones on the basis of their genetic makeup. They’re also forbidden “from requesting, requiring or purchasing genetic information” of their current or potential future workers.


But a bill making the rounds on Capitol Hill is hoping to change that. Employers would be allowed under H.R. 1313 to require genetic information from workers if they are part of “workplace wellness” programs.

The bill quietly passed a vote on Wednesday in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, according to STAT. All 22 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while all 17 Democrats opposed it.

The bill would also allow employers to penalize their workers financially, thousands of dollars per year, if they refuse to submit their genes to the company in a workplace wellness examination.

The proposed bill “opens the door for unscrupulous employers to misuse the information provided to them through workplace wellness programs and exposes employees to illegal discrimination,” said Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA).


H.R. 1313 now awaits a full vote in the House. Should the bill pass the House and Senate and make it to Donald Trump’s desk, it’s likely he would sign it, given his past statements about his belief in eugenics — a theory that people of certain genetic backgrounds are superior to others.

Did he really express support of eugenics?

 

[Nithavela]

Of all the distopian scifi films, didn't think that Gattaca would make it into reality.

 

[Greyy]

So, this is a mix of true and false.

This bill would allow employers to give discounts to employees on their health insurance based on genetic tests that would show risks for certain diseases. This makes fiscal sense. If a genetic test comes back showing you are at lower risk of cancer or heart disease, then it would make sense that you would pay less in premiums.

It does not mandate genetic testing.

Yes, employeers should totally have access to our genes for what fits the bottom line.

Employeers should also be able to ask about disabilities and health problems in applications.

 

[Earatha]

This isn't for hiring purposes, it's for the purpose of health insurance premiums. And yes, certain health conditions mean higher premiums. Certain disabilities require higher premiums. How is this any different?

You're not being charged more for not submitting either. You get a discount if you do submit. Imagine it like this, I own a skate park and I charge $10 for admission. But if you can show me a trick before entering that shows you are a good skater I charge you $7. You don't have to do a trick, but if you do you get a small incentive.

 

[Nithavela]

This isn't for hiring purposes, it's for the purpose of health insurance premiums. And yes, certain health conditions mean higher premiums. Certain disabilities require higher premiums. How is this any different?

You're not being charged more for not submitting either. You get a discount if you do submit. Imagine it like this, I own a skate park and I charge $10 for admission. But if you can show me a trick before entering that shows you are a good skater I charge you $7. You don't have to do a trick, but if you do you get a small incentive.

I don't know which bill you've been reading, but "penality up to 30% of the health insurance cost" doesn't sound like a discount to me.

 

[Earatha]

The 30% penalty is for non-continuous coverage. Which is itself a terrible idea, but that's another matter.

I want to make myself clear: I have listened to the reading of the new health care bill. It's bad. But I also value fairness and good information.

 

[Nithavela]

The 30% penalty is for non-continuous coverage. Which is itself a terrible idea, but that's another matter.

I think that when such a discount becomes the rule of law, insurance companies will raise their prices so that the new price with the discount is equal to the old, normal price, while the new price without providing genetic information will be unaffordable.

And of course, if you have some problematic genes, you might just find yourself out of a job for some reason...

 

[Earatha]

The prices are going to go up anyway, just not because of this. If you're worried about skyrocketing prices, this is not the part of the law you need to be worried about.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Yes, employeers should totally have access to our genes for what fits the bottom line.

Employeers should also be able to ask about disabilities and health problems in applications.

Why?

 

[Nithavela]

Why?

Because when you give employers all the rights, they trickle down to the employees.

 

[Larniavc]

Source: New GOP bill would force workers to undergo mandatory genetic testing or pay thousands in fines


TOPICS:billfeaturedgeneticHR 1313Republicantesting
Posted By: Chris Walker March 10, 2017


A creepy new bill that just passed a house committee vote would allow employers to require genetic samples from their workers.

Your employer could demand detailed information about your genes, and even discriminate against you in certain circumstances, if H.R. 1313 gets passed.

Privacy of your genetic information has been the law for almost a decade. Current law mandates that genetic information cannot be obtained by an employer unless the employee voluntarily gives it up. Under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, also known as GINA, businesses cannot discriminate against current employees or make hiring decisions on future ones on the basis of their genetic makeup. They’re also forbidden “from requesting, requiring or purchasing genetic information” of their current or potential future workers.


But a bill making the rounds on Capitol Hill is hoping to change that. Employers would be allowed under H.R. 1313 to require genetic information from workers if they are part of “workplace wellness” programs.

The bill quietly passed a vote on Wednesday in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, according to STAT. All 22 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while all 17 Democrats opposed it.

The bill would also allow employers to penalize their workers financially, thousands of dollars per year, if they refuse to submit their genes to the company in a workplace wellness examination.

The proposed bill “opens the door for unscrupulous employers to misuse the information provided to them through workplace wellness programs and exposes employees to illegal discrimination,” said Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA).


H.R. 1313 now awaits a full vote in the House. Should the bill pass the House and Senate and make it to Donald Trump’s desk, it’s likely he would sign it, given his past statements about his belief in eugenics — a theory that people of certain genetic backgrounds are superior to others.

As an outsider looking in the GOP desire for government intervention in individual's lives is indeed creepy.

It seems to be so hands off with the means of production but takes a very heavy handed interventionists policy with individual people's live.

It's very strange.

 

[Greyy]

Because when you give employers all the rights, they trickle down to the employees.

Just like trickle down economics. Think about how great America would be if we only taxed the poor! The rich would keep all their money and get to spend it, trickling it all the way down to the poor, where the government would tax them.

 

[Nithavela]

As an outsider looking in the GOP desire for government intervention in individual's lives is indeed creepy.

It seems to be so hands off with the means of production but takes a very heavy handed interventionists policy with individual people's live.

It's very strange.

No, that's totally expected.

 

[Armoured]

So much for the "people who can't afford health care syould just get a job with health benefits" argument.

 

[Greyy]

This isn't for hiring purposes, it's for the purpose of health insurance premiums. And yes, certain health conditions mean higher premiums. Certain disabilities require higher premiums. How is this any different?

Because it is blantant discrimination against people with disabilities.