PROVIDENCE — A bill passed by the General Assembly preventing health insurers from divulging genetic information and test results has been signed into law by Gov. Lincoln Almond.
According to a statement issued by the Legislative Press Bureau, the bill (2001-S 803 Sub B), was sponsored by Sen. Walter S. Felag, Jr (D- Bristol, Portsmouth, Warren). House Majority Whip Suzanne M. Henseler sponsored an identical bill in the House, the statement said.
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The intent of the new law, say Felag and Henseler, is to protect people from discrimination based on genetic factors. Under the new law, a person would have to provide written consent in order for his or her genetic information to be released. Genetic information, often obtained through blood tests, may indicate an individual’s risk of hemophilia, breast or ovarian cancer, Parkinson Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, cystic fibrosis and other diseases.
