Murray Slams Trump Rule Allowing Health Care Discrimination as “Presidential Malpractice”

Murray slams decision to weaken protections against discrimination in health care during a pandemic and amid nationwide cry for action against racism

Murray: “This is presidential malpractice… We need a leader focused on keeping everyone safe and healthy. Instead, President Trump chose to focus on politics with a cruel step that will make it harder for people who already struggle with care to get it, and at the worst possible time.”

(Washington, D.C.) –  Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration finalizing a rule that weakens critical protections that help address discrimination in health care. The Trump Administration’s rule on Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) undermines health care protections for LGBTQIA+ people, women, people with disabilities, and people whose primary language is not English.

“This is presidential malpractice. Our country is in crisis. We need a leader focused on keeping everyone safe and healthy. Instead, President Trump chose to focus on politics with a cruel step that will make it harder for people who already struggle with care to get it, and at the worst possible time. This new rule makes it easier for providers to refuse to treat people because they’re LGBTQIA+, because they’re seeking an abortion, because they have a disability, or because their primary language is not English. That’s wrong, and we’ll keep fighting against it.”

Senator Murray has repeatedly criticized the Trump Administration’s proposed rule on Section 1557 implementation previously, and urged it not be finalized.  

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