Planned Parenthood Slams Trump Rule That Would Encourage Health Care Discrimination Against Women, LGBTQ+ People

Polls show that people in America do not believe health care workers and institutions should be able to deny people care based on personal objections.

WASHINGTON — Today, the Trump-Pence administration released a proposed rule intended to undermine the ACA non-discrimination provision, the Health Care Rights Law. The proposed rule intends to scale back protections for transgender people and people who have had an abortion. Women and transgender people already face continued discrimination that limits their access to health care. Notably, nearly one-third of transgender people surveyed said a doctor or health care provider has refused to treat them due to their gender identity. 

Statement from Dr. Leana Wen, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

As health care providers, our first responsibility is always to our patients. By proposing to roll back critical protections that prevent discrimination against transgender people and people who have had abortion care, the Trump-Pence administration would — again — put their health and well-being at risk. This policy could widen existing health care disparities for the people protected by the Health Care Rights Law — who already face too many barriers to care. This is yet another attack on women and LGBTQ people from the Trump-Pence administration — populations that already face discrimination and limited access to care. Health care is a human right for all, and no one should be denied that right because of who they are.

This is not the first time the administration has sought to undermine health care rights and access — it’s a priority for the administration. Earlier this month, the administration finalized a refusal rule that would allow a broad scope of health care workers to deny a range of health care services, including abortion, undermining access for both women and transgender people. This, on top of the Department of Education rescinding guidelines that require schools to accommodate transgender students; an effort to prohibit transgender people from serving in the military; and the Department of Justice declaring that civil rights law does not apply to transgender people.

Since taking office, the Trump-Pence administration has:

• Issued a rule to allow employers to deny birth control coverage to their employees
• Tried to block people from getting care at Planned Parenthood health centers
• Tried to cut funding for teen pregnancy prevention programs
• Taken away protections for sexual assault survivors on campus
• Promoted abstinence-only programs  
• Appointed officials who dismiss science and vehemently oppose birth control — to oversee our nation’s program dedicated to affordable birth control and reproductive health care
• Repeatedly tried to block young, immigrant women from exercising their right to safe, legal abortion
• Ended a longstanding policy that releases most pregnant women from ICE detention  

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.