Mary Agnes Carey, associate editor of CQ HealthBeat, examines Senate approval of genetic nondiscrimination legislation, House passage of a measure to block implementation of new Medicaid rules and hearings about FDA's need for increased inspection resources in this week's "Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork.org and CQ."
According to Carey, the Senate voted 95-0 to approve legislation that would prohibit employers and insurers from using any genetic screening test results when making employment or coverage decisions. The House has approved a different version of the measure, but the chamber is expected to pass the Senate version, Carey says. President Bush is expected to sign the bill.
Carey also discusses legislation approved by the House that would block for one year the implementation of several new Medicaid regulations proposed by the Bush administration. The House passed the bill with enough votes to override a presidential veto. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has put the measure on a fast-track process, which eliminates committee consideration and brings the bill straight to the Senate floor. HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt has indicated that there likely will be opposition to the measure in the Senate, and some Senate Republicans have voiced support for the Medicaid rules.