Is the Health Portraitª program compliant with the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)?
The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) is an Act of Congress designed to prohibit the improper use of genetic information in health insurance and employment. “Genetic information” includes family medical history and information regarding individuals’ and family members’ genetic tests and genetic services. GINA prohibits group health plans and health insurers from denying coverage to a health individual or charging that person higher premiums based solely on a genetic disposition to developing a disease in the future. The legislation also prohibits employers from using individuals’ genetic information when making hiring, firing, job placement or promotion decisions. Because Medforma is not a health plan or health insurer, nor does Medforma provide any information on individual users to the employer, Medforma’s programs are GINA compliant. The Stanford Health & Lifestyle Assessment asks employees about their family health history only to provide feedback to the indi
