WASHINGTON, D.C., May 18, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) The same day last week the Obama Administration threatened the nations public schools with the loss of federal funding lest they comply with its rendering of gender theory, the White House dropped an even worse threat on healthcare institutions accepting government dollars. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published the final rule for Obamacares Section 1557 last Friday, requiring healthcare providers receiving federal funds to perform gender transition services and abortions, or face termination of government aid, along with possible referral to the Department of Justice for legal action.
HHS states the rule will help to advance equity and reduce health disparities by protecting some of the populations that have been most vulnerable to discrimination in the health care context.
It encompasses any health program or activity, any part of which gets HHS funding, which would mean hospitals accepting Medicare and doctors who accept Medicaid, and any HHS-administered health program, as well as health insurance marketplaces and issuers that take part in those marketplaces.
The HHS claims the new rule builds on prior Federal civil rights laws to prohibit sex discrimination in health care and also prohibits the denial of health care or health coverage based on an individuals sex, including discrimination based on pregnancy, gender identity, and sex stereotyping. The final rule also requires covered health programs and activities to treat individuals consistent with their gender identity.
The USCCB and other religiously affiliated groups had opposed the rules imposing coverage of abortion and gender reassignment treatment last fall.
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