Fourteen House Democrats are asking the Obama administration to implement the section of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) that bans discrimination in health care.
The provision, PPACA Section 1557, prohibits discrimination in health care on the basis of sex, gender identity, race, color, national origin, disability and age by federal health care programs and programs that receive federal funds.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asked for stories about real-life health care discrimination in July 2013, but HHS and other federal departments have not yet posted the regulations, or even a draft of the regulations, needed to apply PPACA Section 1557. Even HHS regulations that refer to health care discrimination often simply mention that concern, without referring directly to Section 1557, the lawmakers say.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., drafted a letter asking HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell to implement PPACA Section 1557 and persuaded 13 colleagues to sign the letter along with her.
