Yo, Vitter: knock it off!

So here's something I feel fairly outraged about, just 'cause it seems like unfair piling on: because of an anti-abortion amendment Senator David Vitter (R-Louisiana) attached to the reauthorization of the American Indian Healthcare Improvement Act, the Act is being held up yet again.

Some people think the writing has been on the wall for some time about this (you can read more about the history of this mess at Indian Country Today), but the reality is that the state of health care for Native American people on and off the reservations in this country is a national shame ... and to tie the fate of health services to the perennial third rail of politics is a travesty.

Hat tip to the Kaiser Health Disparities Report (which does a swell job getting you your weekly dose of reality and high blood pressure--as well as daily reports on health policy and other issues).

GINA is now the law of the land

Finally! The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act has been signed into law. More info here, there, and everywhere. Oh, and here too.

Genetic nondiscrimination bill finally coming up for Senate vote

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) is finally coming up for a Senate vote, according to Michael Stebbins of Scientists & Engineers for America. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has had a hold on the bill since last year but has released it. Here's the NYT's report, and here's a version from GenomeWeb.

GINA would protect Americans from discrimination in employment and insurance based on genetic test results. As Linda blogged earlier, the act was passed by the House in March (264 - 148) as part of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007. You can learn more about the act and its halting progress through the hallowed halls of Washington here.

According to Stebbins, Coburn has now placed a hold on the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act.