I Wonder…

…If this will make any difference. It sounds great but will it make any difference, will the hospitals and insurance companies look for a way to get around it?

Landmark settlement sets new standard for treating transgender patients
Lancaster Online
By Heather Stauffer Staff Writer
August 27, 2015

A recent federal crackdown is being hailed as a landmark in establishing standards for nondiscriminatory care of transgender patients, and industry experts say every health-care provider should take it as a warning and ensure compliance.

The recent settlement reached between The Brooklyn Hospital Center and Department of Health & Human Services' Office of Civil Rights marked the first time the federal agency actively enforced a part of the Affordable Care Act that prohibits discrimination.

The Brooklyn Hospital Center was accused of putting a transgender patient who identified as female in a double room with a male. As part of the settlement, the center agreed to update its transgender nondiscrimination policy and provide appropriate training to staff.

"Through the Affordable Care Act, for the first time, individuals are protected from discrimination on the basis of sex, which includes gender identity, in health programs," said Jocelyn Samuels, Office of Civil Rights director.
[…]
The Brooklyn Hospital Center was accused of putting a transgender patient who identified as female in a double room with a male. As part of the settlement, the center agreed to update its transgender nondiscrimination policy and provide appropriate training to staff.

"Through the Affordable Care Act, for the first time, individuals are protected from discrimination on the basis of sex, which includes gender identity, in health programs," said Jocelyn Samuels, Office of Civil Rights director.

Some important facts for us to know. First, we are covered by HIPAA. That means that the hospital staff cannot talk about the fact that we are trans, it is on a medical need to know basis. Second, they cannot put you in a private room because that is segregation. They have to put you in a ward of you gender identity without your consent (for me I would love that). In other words if they say they are putting you in a private room at no extra cost that is a violation of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and the Connecticut non-discrimination ward. Lastly if someone complains in the ward that they don’t want to be in the room with you, they cannot move you out of the ward.