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.
Strong implementation and enforcement of
this rule will improve the health / well-being of LGBTQI+ people
across the US.
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."
Whitman-Walker Institute, which leverages research, policy, and
education to advance health equity nationwide, is affiliated with
Whitman-Walker Health, the lead plaintiff in a 2020 federal lawsuit
brought to reverse the Trump administration's weakening of Section
1557's nondiscrimination protections for underserved communities,
particularly LGBTQI+ people. The need for the Biden-Harris
administration to restore and expand these nondiscrimination
protections was clear. Research shows that LGBTQI+ people continue
to face widespread discrimination in health insurance and health
care settings:
- According to the 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey, nearly 50% of
respondents who saw a provider in the last year had at least one
negative health care experience because of their gender
identity.
- Twenty-three percent of LGBTQI+ respondents, including 37% of
transgender respondents, reported postponing or avoiding needed
medical care in the past year due to disrespect or discrimination
by providers.
Comment from Whitman-Walker Institute on the finalization of
the Section 1557 rule:
"Whitman-Walker Institute applauds the Biden-Harris
administration for finalizing the rulemaking under Section 1557 of
the Affordable Care Act, which restores critical nondiscrimination
protections for LGBTQI+ people.
These civil rights protections come at a critical time as
transgender people across the country are facing politically
motivated attacks on their right to essential health care. Strong
implementation and enforcement of this rule will improve the health
and well-being of LGBTQI+ people across the country."
About Whitman-Walker Institute
Whitman-Walker Institute is a Washington, D.C. based organization that
leverages cutting-edge research, policy, and education to advance
health equity at the federal level and in states across the
country. We bring to this work expertise in rigorous research and
health policy analysis, deep relationships with state and federal
policymakers, longstanding partnerships across multiple justice
movements, and the direct service experience of Whitman-Walker
Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center that serves thousands
of diverse patients across the D.C. area and beyond. The
Institute is home to nationally recognized experts in areas of
policy such as LGBTQI+ health equity, care for transgender people,
insurance reform, social determinants of health, HIV prevention and
treatment, and sexual orientation and gender identity data
collection. More info can be found at:
https://www.whitman-walker.org/institute/
About Whitman-Walker
For over fifty years, Whitman-Walker has been part of the fabric
of the local Washington, DC
community as well as to our nation as first responder and
care-provider for those living with HIV; a leader in LGBTQI+ care
and advocacy; a research center working to discover breakthroughs
in HIV treatment and prevention science; and one of the DC's most
trusted partners during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Whitman-Walker envisions a society where all people are seen for
who they are, treated with dignity and respect, and afforded equal
opportunity to health and wellbeing. More info can be found at:
www.whitman-walker.org.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/whitman-walker-institute-applauds-the-biden-harris-administration-for-finalizing-robust-affordable-care-act-nondiscrimination-protections-for-lgbtqi-communities-302129048.html
SOURCE Whitman-Walker Institute