Scott, Pallone Urge HHS Secretary Azar to Protect, Not Undermine, Civil Rights in Health Care
“The new division and the proposed rule are just the latest in a long list of attacks by the Administration to erode civil rights under the guise of religious liberty.”
As originally released by the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Democrats
WASHINGTON, DC – Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) sent a public comment letter urging Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to withdraw a harmful proposed rule that would allow hospitals, doctors, and other individuals and institutions to deny care to patients based on religious beliefs. The Members raised concerns that the HHS's Office for Civil Rights' proposed rule would ultimately allow for greater discrimination in America's health care system.
"[T]he proposed rule [is] just the latest in a long list of attacks by the Administration to erode civil rights under the guise of religious liberty. Religious liberty is a fundamental American value, but religion should not permit a person to cause harm to others or subvert the rights of others," wrote the Members."Women, minorities, members of the LGBTQ community, and other marginalized groups already face widespread discrimination in our health care system and this policy would only make this worse by offering an extensive group of individuals and entities a license to discriminate. The proposed rule contradicts the Office for Civil Rights' core mission and should be rejected. Everyone, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (sexual orientation and gender identity), age, or disability, should be treated as equals in our health care system."
Full text of the letter can be found here.