Genetic discrimination bill passes Senate, 95-0.

Modern Healthcare's "Daily Dose" reports that S. 1053 passed in the Senate today by a 95-0 vote. (If you're looking for confirmation (and remarks from the floor), today's Congressional Record will publish the proceedings tomorrow.) The bill, sponsored by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R.-Me.) and 10 co-sponsors, would prohibit employers and insurers from making employment and coverage decisions on the basis of genetic information. The provisions seem largely to duplicate similar provisions already enacted by many states, including Texas (Insurance Code; Labor Code). Ted Kennedy praised the measure; the president of the Health Insurance Association of America criticized it as unnecessary in light of the antidiscrimination provisions in HIPAA.