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LGBT Equality Caucus

MEDIA CENTER

House LGBT Caucus Blasts Administration’s Proposal to Roll Back Health Care Non-Discrimination Protections

May 24, 2019

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420 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20003

Date: May 24, 2019 Contact: Aliya Bean, (202) 225-2305

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

House LGBT Caucus Blasts Administration's Proposal to Roll Back Health Care Non-Discrimination Protections

Washington D.C. – The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus released the following statement in response to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposal to dismantle and roll back the Health Care Rights Law—Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act—which protects patients from discrimination in health care. The proposed rule, which was released on Friday, would open the door for insurance companies, hospitals, doctors, and nurses to deny patients vital care and to discriminate on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.

This is the Trump administration's third regulatory strike against transgender people this month. One rule, released earlier this month, would give health care entities and providers a broad license to discriminate and deny patients care, and a draft rule issued Wednesday would allow homeless shelters to turn away transgender people.

"Denying someone care or insurance coverage because of who they are or who they love is discrimination plain and simple." said LGBT Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03). "This new license to discriminate will put transgender people's health and lives at risk. Once again, we must inform this administration that discrimination has no place in health care. A patient's health must always come first."

The Health Care Rights Law was passed as part of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 and was the first broad prohibition of sex discrimination in health care in federal law. Under the Health Care Rights Law, discrimination based on sex stereotyping, gender identity, and pregnancy are all prohibited forms of sex discrimination. This law is particularly important for transgender people, who face harassment, denial of treatment, and other forms of discrimination at disproportionate rates. This law is also especially significant for women experiencing pregnancy complications who have been denied the care they need, even in life-threatening situations.

Please contact Aliya Bean at 202-225-2305 or aliya.bean@mail.house.gov with press inquiries.

Founded in 2008, the mission of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality. The Caucus is strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBT people in the U.S. and around the world.