news
ACAP Statement on Proposed Revisions to Health Care Non-Discrimination Regulations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 24, 2019
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Van Ness, (202) 204-7515, jvanness@communityplans.net
STATEMENT OF ACAP CEO MARGARET A. MURRAY ON PROPOSED REVISIONS
TO HEALTH CARE NON-DISCRIMINATION REGULATIONS
WASHINGTON—Margaret A. Murray, Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), made the following statement on proposed regulations recently promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Services, which would eliminate antidiscrimination protections for patients on the basis of gender identity and whether a woman had previously sought an abortion:
“It’s difficult to see what problems these revisions solve.
“We believe that keeping open avenues to coverage and health care is the best way to keep people healthy and is the wisest use of resources for government-sponsored programs.
“Turning the clock back and allowing health care entities to discriminate on the basis of a person’s gender identification, or whether someone has previously sought an abortion, will lead to worse health outcomes and higher health care costs.
“More importantly, these changes run directly counter to the rule’s stated objective of advancing health equity and protecting populations vulnerable to discrimination in health care.
“We urge HHS to reconsider this policy.”
About ACAP:
ACAP represents 66 health plans which collectively provide health coverage to more than 20 million people in 29 states. Safety Net Health Plans serve their members through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Marketplace and other publicly-sponsored health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.