(NEW YORK, NY - August 14, 2019) - Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) today joins dozens of LGBTQ and allied organizations in demanding that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) permanently halt implementation of a proposed new rule that would invite insurance companies, hospitals, doctors, nurses, and other providers to illegally deny patients care because of who they are, despite protections mandated by the Affordable Care Act.

Since the proposed rule was made public on May 24th, TLDEF has added its voice to the chorus of opposition against the proposed rule by submitting comments.

“A patient’s health should always be a medical provider’s first priority,” said TLDEF Executive Director Andy Marra. "Yet at every turn, this administration remains resolved to threaten and undermine health protections for transgender people who struggle to receive basic and life-saving care. This proposed regulation is another cruel attempt to strip transgender people of protections already guaranteed under the law. We are prepared to challenge this discriminatory effort and look forward to working with our partners to ensure these protections remain intact.”

TLDEF has joined a broad coalition, including Protect Trans Health to oppose the repeal of health protections. The public comment period ended last night with more than 132,000 comments against this harmful and discriminatory rule submitted to HHS. The federal government is now expected to summarize and consider public comments before implementation can move forward.

In addition to placing transgender people at heightened risk, the regulation would negatively impact the entire LGBTQ community, people who have had or will need abortion care and other reproductive health services, people whose first language is not English, immigrants, people of color, and people with disabilities. Since the proposed rule became public, the coalition has led efforts to highlight its widespread and harmful impact and to galvanize the public to submit comments opposing its adoption.

According to a national study, one in four transgender people have experienced problems with their health insurance in the past year related to their gender identity. In addition, more than a third of transgender people have experienced a negative interaction with a health care provider ranging from verbal harassment to refusal of treatment.