AMA Fighting ACCC Draft Determination on Genetic Tests
The Australian Medical Association is fighting an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) draft determination that would allow insurers to coerce insurance applicants into having genetic tests, according to an article in the latest edition of 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, Dr Trevor Mudge said.
"I don't think the ACCC adequately understands the public benefit argument - it is crucial in terms of genetic testing," Dr Mudge said.
The peak insurance body, the Investment and Financial Services Association (IFSA) also opposed the determination, which rejected an IFSA draft genetic testing policy - which said insurers would not initiate genetic tests on consumers - as anti-competitive.
At a conference following the draft determination last month, the ACCC gave the AMA and IFSA three weeks to prepare a public benefit submission. A final determination will be assessed within four weeks of the submission.
Australian Medicine is the National news publication of the Australian Medical Association.