- Home
- Advocacy
- Latest News and Practice Data
- South Carolina genetic data bill opposed by CAP fails to advance
Legislation in South Carolina that would have given patients ownership of their genetic information failed to advance this session.
- Senate Bill 731 would have redefined how genetic data is treated in the state. The CAP and the South Carolina Society of Pathologists (SCSP) opposed the bill in a joint letter.
The impact: Pathologists warned the bill could have limited patient access to advanced diagnostic testing and targeted therapies.
- CAP and SCSP stressed that genetic analysis is now central to precision medicine, especially in cancer care and other serious conditions.
- "An array of targeted therapies based on biomarkers is now available and has dramatically improved health outcomes for South Carolina patients," the groups wrote.
What we’re saying: The SCSP also urged lawmakers to preserve pathologists’ ability to use and share genetic information under existing federal privacy rules.
"Our legal authority to analyze, store and share this information and our patient specimens, in compliance with HIPAA and related regulations (42 C.F.R. parts 160 and 164), should be expressly exempted under this legislation," SCSP stated.
The bottom line: The South Carolina legislature adjourned without taking action on SB 731, so the bill will not move forward this session.