By Amy Lotven
Key stakeholders praised HHS for proposing a long-awaited rule on the ACA’s nondiscrimination provisions but said they are upset the administration didn’t offer specific examples of discriminatory benefit design. Beneficiary advocates also said they are thrilled the proposed rule, the first federal civil rights law that bans discrimination based on sex, extends existing protections to transgender individuals but will argue that HHS should explicitly bar discrimination against people due to their sexual orientation.
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The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) praised the proposed regulation. “We are exceedingly pleased that this regulation specifically includes protections against discrimination in health care, including new protections on the basis of sex,” NHeLP Executive Director Elizabeth G. Taylor said. “This marks a significant step toward full and effective implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s groundbreaking nondiscrimination protections, intended to provide equal health care to all people.” Read the full article here. »
