White House bolsters transgender health protections, rolls back Trump admin rule

[Jessica_Rose]

White House bolsters transgender health protections, rolls back Trump admin rule

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/white-house-bolsters-transgender-health-protections-rolls-back-trump-admin-rule/ar-AA1nJY0w?ocid=windirect&cvid=b808de6a3fae42559df255deb930308f&ei=61

Story by Nathaniel Weixel (26 April 2024)

The Biden administration is bolstering health care protections against discrimination for gay and transgender people, reversing a Trump administration rule that gutted the protections.

In a wide-ranging final rule released Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) strengthened the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) rules that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, in certain health programs and activities. 

"Today's rule is a giant step forward for this country toward a more equitable and inclusive health care system, and means that Americans across the country now have a clear way to act on their rights against discrimination when they go to the doctor, talk with their health plan, or engage with health programs run by HHS," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement.

The rule involves protections in Section 1557 of the ACA that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age and disability in certain health programs and activities.

Advocates were concerned that the previous policies would have made it easier for doctors, hospitals and insurance companies to deny care or coverage to transgender and nonbinary patients, as well as women who have had abortions.