A bill that was recently approved by a House committee may allow employers to ask employees to undergo genetic testing in workplace wellness programs, unless employees pay a penalty, according to a STAT analysis.
Here are six things to know about the controversial bill (H.R.1313), called the Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act.
1. The bill was approved with the support of all 22 Republicans, although all 17 Democrats opposed it. It has not yet passed the Senate.
2. Currently, employers are not allowed to require employees undergo genetic testing, in part due to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, often referred to as GINA.
3. H.R.1313 would allow an employer to ask employees for genetic information as part of its workplace wellness program, since these programs are considered voluntary.
4. However, under the ACA, employers with workplace wellness programs are able to "charge employees 30 percent, and possibly 50 percent, more for health insurance if they declined to participate," according to STAT.
5. The bill's opponents worry that by asking employees to undergo genetic testing or face financial penalty, employers can essentially demand genetic information.
6. To be clear, under the bill, employers would only be given genetic information without employees' names. However, opponents have voiced concerns that employees could be identified in spite of this anonymity, especially in small organizations.
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