Reply to HR 1313 -- Emloyees will need to choose: disclose genetic information or pay higher premiums

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Reply to "HR 1313 -- Emloyees will need to choose: disclose genetic information or pay higher premiums"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]You're  exaggerating.  Wellness programs often need to take blood to establish baseline measurements like on cholesterol, a1c, blood glucose.  Wellness programs were shut down because of the POSSIBILITY that genetic information could be obtained. It was never the intent of wellness programs to collect genetic info.  Costs need to be controlled, especially for self insureds, and wellness programs were helping make workforces healthier, decreasing absenteeism, and decreasing overall health costs by 5-15% depending on the quality of the program and corporate participation.  It is an example of throwing the baby out with the bath water.[/quote]

Please explain how it's an exaggeration.  Many sources are reporting that this bill would allow employers to require genetic information, or impose large fines on employees.

https://www.statnews.com/2017/03/10/workplace-wellness-genetic-testing/

[/quote]

It's an example of over hystericalization of a minor finger prick to assess progress in a corporate wellness program.  It penalizes people who won't participate to take proven steps to improve their diabetes compliance, improve their cholesterol, among other things.  They also reward employees who meet other health goals.  This has to be part of a three leg stool to reduce health costs:  patient compliance, provider/hospital/medication/insurer fee control, and best evidence practices.  Without all three, the stool doesn't stand.  That's how health care costs get reduced for all of us while maintaining excellent care.

But I suspect the real problem is once blood is drawn, the use of illegal drugs can be monitored, which is the real reason behind the manufactured hysteria.[/quote]

Thank you Chamber of Commerce lobbyist or Virginia Foxx staffer. [/quote]

Wellness programs are often contracted out to third party companies.  What if your own doctor provided the results and kept the blood so you could participate in wellness programs?  I work in healthcare.  Part of Any government  sudidized plan must require partipants to follow some simple healthy habits.  Keeping blood sugar under control, if not losing weight, working on maintaining a  healthy weight, working on high cholesterol, taking medications as prescribed among other things.  Don't want to adopt wellness habits?  Don't accept a subsidized plan.  If I'm helping pay for your heart attack, I want you to be following best practices..  End users (patients, insureds) in this system must have accountability.  Plus the republican plan doesn't do enough to regulate costs on the provider/hospital/medication side, or hold doctors accountable for best practices.[/quote]

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