Opting into a voluntary work wellness program could mean mandatory genetic testing under new bill

A lab technician takes a saliva sample for DNA testing at the Genetic Institute Nantes-Atlantique (IGNA) on December 10, 2015 in Nantes, western France.
The Genetic Institute Nantes-Atlantique (IGNA) is one of the first French laboratories of forensic expertise to use DNA evidence to establish the physical characteristics of a suspect and so his "genetic sketch," can be used as a "support tool " in an investigation. / AFP / GEORGES GOBET (Photo credit should read GEORGES GOBET/AFP/Getty Images)

A bill introduced by the Committee on Education and the Workforce would impose new penalties on employees who opt-out of genetic testing under voluntary work wellness programs.

As reported by the New York Times, the bill was introduced by Rep. Virginia Foxx, (R-N.C.), chair of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. While Foxx argues mandatory genetic testing under these programs would help with company health care costs, opponents of the bill are criticizing the impact on patient privacy.

What do you think of the bill? Should genetic testing be mandatory under wellness programs?

*Note: We reached out to the Virginia Foxx, and the Committee on Education and the Workforce which introduced the bill, but did not hear back in time for our air.

Guests:

Reed Abelson, reporter for the New York Times covering health care; she wrote the recent article, “How Healthy Are You? G.O.P. Bill Would Help Employers Find Out”

Deborah Peel, MD, founder and president of Patient Privacy Rights, a group dedicated to ensuring that Americans control all access to their health records