Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice America Condemns Trump Administration’s Efforts to Roll Back Protections Against Discrimination in the Affordable Care Act
For Immediate Release: June 12, 2020
Contact: [email protected]
Today the Department of Health and Human Services gutted protections against healthcare discrimination provided by Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act.
NARAL Pro-Choice America’s Chief Research and Communications Officer Adrienne Kimmell released the following statement in response:
“It is unconscionable that this administration is attempting to strip away protections against healthcare discrimination for LGBTQ people, women, persons with disabilities, immigrants and non-native English speakers, and communities of color in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump and his allies never fail to show that their extreme ideology comes before people’s health, safety, and lives. This rule will hurt Americans and fall hardest on people who already face barriers to accessing healthcare. The cruelty of this administration knows no bounds.”
Discrimination has no place in healthcare and it should never be allowed to determine the care a patient receives. This rule, finalized today by HHS, undermines protections for individuals and could give the green light for healthcare providers and insurance companies to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people, people who have sought or may in the future seek abortion care, people whose first language is not English, immigrants, people of color, and people with disabilities.
This administration continues to prioritize political gain over the wellbeing of Americans, even in the midst of a public health emergency. This ideologically-motivated rule is dangerous and runs counter to the Affordable Care Act’s promise of expanding healthcare coverage, free from discrimination.
###
NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates and chapters are dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all. For more than 50 years, NARAL has worked to guarantee that every woman has the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. Since 1969, NARAL has made history, grown to over 2.5 million members, and met the moments that have defined this fight with action, power and freedom. In recognition of its work defending our constitutional right to choose, Fortune Magazine described NARAL as “one of the top 10 advocacy groups in America.”