Reps. Pappas, Lee, and Sen. Murray Introduce Bill Blocking the Trump Administration's Rule Permitting Discrimination in Health Care

Press Release

Today, the Put Patients First Act was introduced by Representatives Chris Pappas (D-NH), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), following the Southern District of New York's decision to block the Trump Administration's attempt to allow health care providers to refuse lifesaving care on a religious or "conscience" basis. This legislation will affirm that court's decision and further safeguard the health care received by all Americans.

The Put Patients First Act would permanently block the Trump-Pence Administration's rule, finalized earlier this year, that permitted discrimination in health care by allowing personal beliefs to dictate treatment and care. This rule would allow virtually any individual or entity involved in a patient's care -- from a hospital's board of directors to a receptionist that schedules procedures -- to withhold care based on their personal beliefs.

"The care patients receive should be predicated on their medical needs and not the personally-held beliefs of providers or administrators," said Congressman Pappas. "While conscience-based protections already exist in law, this extreme rule puts patients at risk. The Put Patients First Act is essential to block this unconstitutional rule. We must ensure a provider's personal or religious beliefs do not compromise patient care."

"A provider's personal beliefs should never determine patient care, and the Put Patients First Act will help ensure that personal or religious beliefs do not interfere with patients obtaining the care they need. At Planned Parenthood, patients come first, and we will continue doing everything we can at our health centers to ensure all patients have access to safe, legal abortion care---free from judgment and medically unnecessary barriers." Sabrina Dunlap, Vice President of Public Affairs, NH

This legislation has been endorsed by the ACLU, Center for American Progress, Center for Reproductive Rights, Guttmacher Institute, Human Rights Campaign, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda, Lambda Legal, The LGBTQ Task Force, NARAL, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, National Abortion Federation, National Center for Transgender Equality, National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, National LGBTQ Task Force, National Women's Law Center, Physicians for Reproductive Health, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America

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