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Obamacare is no stranger to delving into what some consider touchy subjects. A new rule has been proposed with regards to transgender individuals.
Thursday’s proposed rule is being phrased as an issue of preventing health care providers and insurance companies from discriminating. AP Big Story reported that according to Jocelyn Samuels of the HHS Office for Civil Rights “the rule does not explicitly require require insurers to cover gender transition treatment, including surgery.”
Insurance companies and providers though would face pressure from the government and even lawsuits if it was determined that they discriminated against a patient. “Gender transition” is regarded as “medically necessary.”
Providers who accept federal dollars would have to comply with the rule. This means that providers could not refuse to treat transgender individuals and that such individuals would have to be allowed to use the restrooms and wards of their choice.
U.S. News & World Report also points out that even private providers would follow such rules, “as the government rules set the standards for the industry.” It would not just be federally funded providers who would face pressure then.
The rule has merely been proposed. The public has until Nov. 6 to respond. Relevant issues to raise may involve protections for those objecting for religious reasons. How the rule applies to sexual orientation may also come up.
