Employment discrimination

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008

hmoroz — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:53:02 -0400

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Projected cost of sequencing the complete genome of an individual within the next ten years, in dollars: 1,000

Total cost of the 13-year Human Genome Project, including studies of human diseases and experimental organisms, development of new technologies for biological and medical research, and other scientific activities, in dollars: 3 billion

Percentage of cancer genetics specialists who would not bill their own insurance company for colon, breast, or ovarian cancer genetic testing due to fear of genetic discrimination: 68

Percentage of Americans who are concerned that results from a genetic test that can tell patients whether they are at increased risk for a disease like cancer could be used in ways that would be harmful to them: 90

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Middle Class Supports. Although cases of discrimination based on genetic testing are rare, as genetic testing becomes more widespread the risk that middle-class Americans who depend on health insurance could be denied insurance coverage or be terminated from a job solely for being at genetic risk for a disease is troubling. The legislation will facilitate the individualized approaches to health care that mapping the genome has made possible. Additionally, the bill would bolster popular support for genetic research by alleviating Americans’ fears of discrimination. Limiting the act’s prohibitions to use by employers and insurance companies would not stifle innovation in genetic research.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Genetic Discrimination Resource Site, from the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health

Dr. Francis Collins on the Threat of Genetic Discrimination to the Promise of Personalized Medicine

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008

hmoroz — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:53:02 -0400

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Projected cost of sequencing the complete genome of an individual within the next ten years, in dollars: 1,000

Percentage of cancer genetics specialists who would not bill their own insurance company for colon, breast, or ovarian cancer genetic testing due to fear of genetic discrimination: 68

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Genetic Discrimination Resource Site, from the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health

Dr. Francis Collins on the Threat of Genetic Discrimination to the Promise of Personalized Medicine

Civil Rights Act of 2008

hmoroz — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:04:56 -0400

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Civil Rights Act of 2008

hmoroz — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:04:56 -0400

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2008

hmoroz — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:07:11 -0500

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Percent of Americans ages 18 and older who suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year: 26.2

Percentage of people who commit suicide who have a diagnosable mental disorder: 90

Percentage by which the cost-sharing for addiction benefits exceeded that for medical or surgical benefits, according to a 2007 Health Affairs study of employer-provided benefits: 46%

Out-of-pocket savings per user of mental health and substance-abuse services in the best of seven plans studies by the New England Journal of Medicine before and after the implementation of parity in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: $87.06

Percentage of insurance plans that contained at least one plan feature that was more restrictive for mental health benefits than for medical and surgical benefits two years after the implementation of the Mental Health Parity Act: 87

Date on which President Bush announced that “health plans should not be allowed to apply unfair treatment limitations or financial requirements on mental health benefits”: April 29, 2002

Approximate success rate for the treatment of depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health: 80

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

The Middle Class Supports. While the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program has recognized the importance of providing equal coverage for mental health disorders and medical and surgical procedures since 1999, millions of middle-class Americans who are insured by other plans still struggle to afford mental health care services. Although approximately 26.2% of Americans older than 18 suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder and although mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the United States for individuals ages 15-44, the General Accounting Office found that 87% of health care plans impose more severe restrictions on mental health benefits than they do on medical and surgical benefits. The Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act improves upon the financial parity requirements of the Mental Health Parity Act by preventing group insurers from inhibiting beneficiaries’ access to mental health services by restricting frequency and number of office visits and days of coverage. Such restrictions force individuals seeking mental health care to pay for expensive services out-of-pocket. The legislation not only does much to remedy the discriminatory practices of insurers, but will increase access to mental health care services for middle-class Americans already struggling with high health care costs. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that health insurance premiums will increase by only .4%. The Parity Act also helps to dispel the misguided notion that mental health care is less important than medical and surgical services.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Testimony of David Wellstone, Co-Founder of Wellstone Action, before the House Committee on Education and Labor

"The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America", from the National Institute of Mental Health

Fact Sheet on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity from the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management

Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2008

hmoroz — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:07:11 -0500

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Percent of Americans ages 18 and older who suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year: 26.2

Percentage of people who commit suicide who have a diagnosable mental disorder: 90

Percentage by which the cost-sharing for addiction benefits exceeded that for medical or surgical benefits, according to a 2007 Health Affairs study of employer-provided benefits: 46%

Date on which President Bush announced that “health plans should not be allowed to apply unfair treatment limitations or financial requirements on mental health benefits”: April 29, 2002

Approximate success rate for the treatment of depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health: 80

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Testimony of David Wellstone, Co-Founder of Wellstone Action, before the House Committee on Education and Labor

"The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America", from the National Institute of Mental Health

Fact Sheet on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity from the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007

atraub — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:10:31 -0500

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Year in which Ledbetter received a “Top Performance” award from the company: 1996

Amount Lilly Ledbetter was paid per month in 1997, the last full year she worked for Goodyear Tire Co.: $3,727

Amount the lowest paid of the 15 men doing similar work for the company was paid per month in 1997: $4,286

Median annual earnings for U.S. full-time, year-round, male workers in 2006: $42,261

Median annual earnings for U.S. full-time, year-round, female workers in 2006: $32,515

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

The Middle Class Supports. Current and aspiring middle-class Americans need the protection of strong anti-discrimination laws to ensure that they are treated fairly by employers. But the mere existence of these laws is not sufficient: the practical ability to enforce them in a meaningful way is crucial. By clarifying a technicality in employment discrimination law, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act deters discriminatory practices in the workplace and ensures that when discrimination does occur, wronged employees can receive fair compensation.

This legislation clarifies that employment discrimination law should be interpreted the way courts have traditionally understood it – until the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a more restrictive interpretation in the 2007 Ledbetter V. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. decision. In this case, the Court ruled that plaintiff Lilly Ledbetter was not eligible for compensation despite years of being paid far less than her male peers and even some male subordinates. According the Court, unlawful discrimination had occurred only when her employer first set the discriminatory pay rate, even though Ledbetter had no way of knowing about it until years later. Under this ruling, since Ledbetter’s employer was able to conceal the discrimination for years and she did not find out about the discrimination until it was too late to file a complaint (within 180 days of the first discriminatory paycheck, according to the Court), she had no legal recourse. By reaffirming that a fresh discrimination offense occurs each time an individual is impacted by a discriminatory practice, including each paycheck that includes unfair compensation, this legislation effectively reverses the Supreme Court’s harmful decision and ensures that people subjected to discrimination in the future will continue to have effective recourse to the law.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. with links to the majority opinion and dissent

The National Committee on Pay Equity

“Signing Off on Discrimination” from the Center for American Progress

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007

atraub — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:10:31 -0500

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Year in which Ledbetter received a “Top Performance” award from the company: 1996

Amount Lilly Ledbetter was paid per month in 1997, the last full year she worked for Goodyear Tire Co.: $3,727

Amount the lowest paid of the 15 men doing similar work for the company was paid per month in 1997: $4,286

Median annual earnings for U.S. full-time, year-round, male workers in 2006: $42,261

Median annual earnings for U.S. full-time, year-round, female workers in 2006: $32,515

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. with links to the majority opinion and dissent

The National Committee on Pay Equity

“Signing Off on Discrimination” from the Center for American Progress

Employment discrimination

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Civil Rights Act of 2008

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Civil Rights Act of 2008

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2008

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2008

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007