Internal Medicine Physicians Encouraged by HHS Rule Protecting Against Discrimination in Federal Health Programs

Statement attributable to:
Isaac O. Opole, MBChB, PhD, FACP
President, American College of Physicians

WASHINGTON April 29, 2024 - The American College of Physicians (ACP) is glad to see the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a final rule protecting against discrimination in federal health programs. With access to comprehensive health care services for LGBTQ+ individuals, women, and others are under threat, ensuring that our patients are fully protected on the basis of gender identity is critical. ACP strongly believes that gender identity, independent and fundamentally different from sexual orientation, should be included as part of anti-discrimination policies. As we told HHS in commenting on the proposed rule, ACP strongly opposes discrimination in any form, particularly in the medical setting, given the clearly demonstrated negative impacts on patient health and well-being. ACP believes it is essential that federal health policy ensures that all persons must have equitable access to high-quality health care. We look forward to continuing to work with the federal government to bolster protections for those who face discrimination.

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About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 145 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 161,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Contact: Jacquelyn Blaser, (202) 261-4572, [email protected]