The Parkinson’s Action Network (PAN) celebrates President Bush’s signing of the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008. This groundbreaking legislation makes it illegal for health insurance companies or employers to use a person’s genetic information to deny coverage or employment.
“This truly is a triumphant day for PAN and the entire Parkinson’s community,” said Amy Comstock Rick, PAN CEO. “Through the hard work of PAN and our advocates, genetic information will never be used against people with myriad diseases, including Parkinson’s, for health insurance and employment.”
At the bill signing on Wednesday, May 20, 2008, President Bush called the bill, “The first major new civil rights bill of the new century.”
PAN advocates helped lead the charge for this legislation by calling, e-mailing, and working with members of Congress and senators. The Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008 – a law nearly 10 years in the making – treats genetic information similar to race and gender, making it illegal to discriminate against anyone for those reasons.
Genetic tests have the possibility of leading to life-saving treatment and therapy for a variety of diseases, including Parkinson’s. Now, people can use this information proactively to get the treatments they need, without having to worry if this genetic information will be used against them by their employer or health insurance company.
Please take a moment to thank your Members of Congress for passing this landmark legislation. Click here to send a thank you.
To read more about the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008 and other legislation PAN is working on, please visit our Web site at www.parkinsonsaction.org.
|
Powered by Phase2 Technology