From our partners at CenterLink:
We wanted to share the good news that a final rule has been issued under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, reaffirming that healthcare services covered by the law cannot discriminate against LGBTQ folks and other groups. This is obviously great news and we know that many of you have weighed in on 1557 over the years (HealthLink itself has been engaged on this issue for over a decade).___Here is what HHS has to say: “Today, HHS Office for Civil Rights issued a final rule implementing Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, reinstating crucial patient rights and strengthening broad protections from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics, and pregnancy), age, and disability in specified health programs and activities. A hallmark civil rights achievement of the Biden-Harris Administration is strengthening these protections that will advance health equity for marginalized communities. Strengthening these protections bolsters health equity for communities of color, women, LGBTQI+ individuals, people with disabilities, people whose primary language is not English and older adults. For the first time, under a change made in this final rule, Medicare Part B payments will be treated as Federal financial assistance for the purpose of triggering coverage under the Federal civil rights statutes the Department enforces.”
___The final rule is available here
___…[B]elow a press release from the Whitman-Walker Institute that explains it a bit more._______________________WASHINGTON , April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the Biden-Harris Administration released a final rule under Section 1557, the core nondiscrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act. This groundbreaking rule marks a critical step in protecting access to health care and coverage for LGBTQI+ people nationwide.___The new rule restores and expands important protections to ensure everyone can receive the health insurance coverage and health care they need, free from discrimination. Critically, the rule demonstrates a strong commitment to ensuring access for all by securing specific protections for some of our nation’s most marginalized communities, including transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people, people with limited English proficiency, people with disabilities, and people who are seeking reproductive health care.
___Dr. Kellan Baker , Executive Director of Whitman-Walker Institute, had this to say on the final rule: “During a time when state legislatures are stripping transgender people of their right to basic health care, we are heartened to see the Biden-Harris administration take a strong stance on the vital necessity of access to inclusive health services for all. The final rule reverses extremely harmful Trump-era regulations and makes clear that no one should be denied access to health care or health insurance coverage because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Paired with robust enforcement, this rule will help dismantle barriers to care and advance health equity for LGBTQI+ and other underserved communities. Implementation of this rule will ensure that the federal government and partners across the country continue to fulfill their responsibility to improve the health and well-being of LGBTQI+ people nationwide.”