Civil and Human Rights Coalition Applauds Transformative Health Care Non-Discrimination Rule

WASHINGTON—Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement in support of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS’) new rule to implement Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act:

“We applaud today’s announcement, which represents a major milestone in the Obama administration’s efforts to ensure that everyone in America has access to quality, affordable health insurance coverage and health care. The Leadership Conference played a critical role in ensuring the inclusion of Section 1557 in the Affordable Care Act, which prevents discrimination against minorities and underserved populations. Since enactment, members of The Leadership Conference have strongly advocated for the full and complete implementation of Section 1557. Our organizations raised numerous issues in comments on the proposed rule, outlining specific suggestions to ensure that the law fully protects people of color, women, people with disabilities, seniors, people whose primary language is not English, immigrants, and LGBT individuals.

Discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or based on factors of other underserved populations creates unequal access to health and health care. We are pleased that the rule includes important new protections to prohibit sex discrimination; protects transgender people on the basis of gender identity; and largely protects lesbian, gay, and bisexual people on the basis of sex stereotypes. While we understand that the law is evolving, we hope that in the future, HHS guidance will follow the lead of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in expressly clarifying that all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation are inherently sex-based and unlawful.

We thank Secretary Burwell and the Obama administration for their commitment to the health and well-being of everyone in America. We look forward to robust implementation of this crucial new civil rights protection.”

Wade Henderson is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.