In an Aug. 9 letter to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights (OCR), America’s Essential Hospitals expressed concern that changes to nondiscrimination protections will decrease access and worsen outcomes for vulnerable patients, including transgender individuals and individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP).
The letter was sent in response to a proposed rule that would overhaul parts of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by removing nondiscrimination protections for transgender individuals and some requirements for covered entities treating people with LEP.
America’s Essential Hospitals urged OCR to:
- withdraw changes that remove crucial nondiscrimination protections for patients based on sex, including gender identity; and
- uphold all protections for individuals with LEP in health care settings.
Contact Senior Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.