The Affordable Care Act (ACA), often
referred to as Obamacare, bars health care discrimination against
transgender people, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
said in a memo released earlier this month.
HHS's memo came in response to a letter
submitted by several gay rights groups to HHS Secretary Kathleen
Sebelius. It confirms that the ACA's protections which prohibit
discrimination based on sex include discrimination on the basis of
gender identity.
“Transgender people face severe
discrimination in healthcare settings and are often denied care
completely,” Maya Rupert, federal policy director for the National
Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), said in a statement. “This
announcement affirms that all patients in federally funded health
care settings must be treated equally and may not be denied care
simply because of who they are. We are grateful to HHS for
clarifying this important policy and providing transgender people
with the security of knowing they are included in the
administration's commitment to the health and well-being of all
Americans.”
The ACA's protections extend to all
healthcare facilities and programs which receive federal funds.