(BOSTON) — Lois Uttley, Director of the Women’s Health Program at Community Catalyst, today urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to withdraw its proposed rule re-interpreting section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (also known as the Health Care Rights Law). In official comments submitted to HHS, Community Catalyst said:

“We are deeply concerned by the Trump administration’s proposed rule, which seeks to undermine long-needed health care nondiscrimination protections established by the Affordable Care Act. Contrary to the intent of the ACA, of which Section 1557 is a crucial provision, this proposed rule would lead to diminished coverage and significant barriers to care for people who already struggle to obtain needed health care. It would particularly harm transgender people and the entire LGBTQ community; people seeking reproductive health care, including abortion services; individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP)E, including immigrants; those living with disabilities; and people of color.

“The rule would send the wrong message to health providers and insurers, suggesting incorrectly that it is once again legally permissible to discriminate against the very groups of people who have experienced the most disparities in access to health care.

“Both our employees and the people we advocate for across the United States would be harmed by this dangerous attempt to sanction discrimination in health care. Community Catalyst urges the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to withdraw the entire proposed rule.”

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About Community Catalyst

Community Catalyst is a national, non-profit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1998 with the belief that affordable, quality health care should be accessible to everyone. We work in partnership with national, state and local organizations, policymakers, and philanthropic foundations to ensure consumer interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and the health system are made: in communities, courtrooms, statehouses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Follow us on Twitter @healthpolicyhub.