Genetic Testing Ruling Draws Ama Fire

Illawarra Mercury

Monday August 7, 2000

Health insurers could demand genetic tests on individuals to rule out costly medical conditions before approving health coverage under a draft consumer watchdog ruling, the Australian Medical Association has warned.

The AMA is fighting a draft determination by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) that it says would allow insurers to coerce applicants into having genetic tests.

Under the draft determination, insurers would be able to initiate genetic tests and offer discounts on premiums based on the likelihood of future medical conditions, the AMA said in its latest publication, Australian Medicine.

``The prospect of anybody - government, employer or insurers - coercing people into genetic tests is concerning because these tests have uncertain implications," AMA vice-president Trevor Mudge said.

AMA senior research officer Kate Stockhausen said the ruling would result in people avoiding potentially beneficial genetic testing out of fear they might be knocked back by insurers or be charged higher premiums.

The nation's peak insurance body, the Investment and Financial Services Association (IFSA), is also fighting the ACCC draft determination. It initiated the controversy when it applied to the ACCC for an exemption for its draft genetic testing policy.

IFSA had proposed that insurers not initiate genetic tests on consumers.