Kagen: Wins another battle in the fight against discrimination in health care

[undeterred]

U.S. Rep. Kagen: Wins another battle in the fight against discrimination in health care
5/1/2008

Contact: Jake Rubin
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CONGRESSMAN KAGEN WINS ANOTHER BATTLE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DISCRMINATION IN HEALTH CARE

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Congressman Steve Kagen, M.D. spoke on the House floor today and declared his heartfelt support for ending discrimination in health care by passing The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. The bill prohibits employers and insurers from discriminating against people on the basis of their genetic constitution. It passed by a vote of 414-1. During his speech, Dr. Kagen said:

“On this day, we are beginning to apply our constitutional rights to protect us against discrimination in health care so that one day very soon equal protection may mean equal treatment. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 493, The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act and the underlying legislation. As a physician and a geneticist, I fully understand the critical need to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's genetic profile. Specifically, this bipartisan bill would prohibit employers from using genetic screening results in hiring, assigning and promoting people at work. It would also bar insurers from making coverage choices or setting premiums based on results of such genetic testing. By establishing these protections, this bill will allow every citizen and their physicians to benefit and participate in the progress the gene therapies provide for all of us in early treatment and prevention of countless afflictions while maintaining their essential insurance coverage.

Perhaps in the near future, I'll be able to rise here on the House floor and ask that we support legislation to bring an end to all forms of discrimination in health care. After all, our constitutional rights protect us against discrimination and should be applied to the area of health care throughout the industry - not just genetic information, not just skin color, not just body chemistry or the content and structure of one's bones - but to everything in the human condition and every pre-existing condition. Let's begin to put discrimination where it belongs - in the past.

We are moving very quickly out of the information age into a time when physicians will be able to diagnose and even treat your condition before you feel it. In closing, I urge my colleagues to support the rule and vote in favor of this important and tremendously progressive bill.”

The House originally passed the bill overwhelmingly in April 2007. The Senate passed the bill with minor amendments and clarifications last week. House passage today of the Senate’s changes sent the bill to the President’s desk for his signature. Proponents of this critical bill have been working for its enactment for 13 years.

http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=125035

The bill's sponsor was Louise Slaughter (NY-28) The only person who voted against it in either the House or the Senate was Jeff Flake (AZ-6)

[midnight]

1. It is rare these days that I read anything that makes sense....

But this legislation is a long time in coming and is greatly needed. Thank you Dr. Kagen.

[undeterred]

2. This bill took 13 years to pass-

Tammy Baldwin also had a press release on it- so I'm not sure who to thank... I don't know how we're going to solve this health care mess, but it sure helps to have an experienced MD in Congress pushing for all the parts of the health care system that need to be changed. Kagen has such a passion for it.

Members of Congress listen more to a doctor than to 47 million uninsured patients. :shrug:

[jellen]

3. Hi. I'm New Here

:hi:
I heard about this place, and I finally found it. Cool:)

[RevCheesehead]

4. Hi, jellen!

Do you live in Kagen's district?
I'm in Algoma (east of Green Bay).

Anyways, welcome to the WI group! :hi:

[jellen]

5. Hey Rev, Do You Know Dinger?

[RevCheesehead]

6. She's a gem!

I've not met her in person, but we've spoken on the phone. She's my kinda Dem! :)