Direct-to Consumer Genetic Testing Companies: Is Genetic Data Adequately Protected in the Absence of HIPPA?
By Elisabeth Nations Direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies such as 23andMe are founded on collecting customers’ private health information, yet this sensitive data is not protected by strong federal legislation. Even the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the touchstone for protecting health data in the United States, does not apply to these…