PRESS RELEASE

AAPCHO Condemns Trump Administration Rule Reversing Health Care Protections Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

June 15, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Download PDF

Rule Strips Language Access, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Patient Nondiscrimination Protections in Health Care Rights Law

WASHINGTON — The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) today issued the following statement condemning, the Trump administration’s rule to rescind critical nondiscrimination protections contained in the Health Care Rights Law, enacted in Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act last Friday. The final rule removes protections instrumental to helping limited English proficient (LEP) individuals navigate our complex health care system, and they prohibited discrimination in health care on the basis of sex, race, color, immigration status, gender identity, age, or disability. AAPCHO strongly condemns this action which denies health care to millions and will have a detrimental impact on individuals and families nationwide.

Adam Carbullido, director of policy and advocacy at AAPCHO, denounced the action calling for the administration to rescind this rule and to restore critical health care protections:

“The Trump administration’s rule to rescind nondiscrimination protections in the Health Care Rights Law is irresponsible and will jeopardize the health and wellbeing of millions of patients who already struggle to access care. In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the administration should make it easier for people to see a doctor and for health care providers to effectively communicate with their patients. It is wrong for the Trump administration to continue its assault on our health care system that disproportionately harms women, members of the LGBTQ community, and individuals who are limited English proficient.

“Among the harmful provisions included in the final rule is the removal of vital services for the most underserved communities, including stripping protections for individuals who have a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English and eliminating requiring taglines on significant documents to inform these individuals where they can turn for assistance.

“The many challenges confronting patients’, especially those with limited English proficiency, ability to access health care has been made more apparent during the pandemic, with numerous reports of doctors unable to communicate critical information essential to their patients’ health. This rule endangers those who are at most risk of discrimination, including many Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander patients and their families. The Trump administration should reverse course, and we are committed to overturning this rule through Congress, the ballot box, or the courts.”

About AAPCHO

AAPCHO is a national association of community health organizations dedicated to promoting advocacy, collaboration and leadership that improves the health status and access of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. For more information on AAPCHO, please visit www.aapcho.org.

Contact 

Kristine Cecile Alarcon, MPH, (510) 671-5054, kalarcon@aapcho.org

Media Relations

Beverly Quintana
(510) 272-9536 x112
bquintana@aapcho.org

Kristine Cecile Alarcon
(510) 671-5054
kalarcon@aapcho.org

View All Press Releases
View Media Page