Proposed ACA Gender Identity Mandate

New proposed regulations from the Office for Civil Rights in the Department of Health and Human Services would create serious conflicts of conscience for many organizations, hospitals, physicians, and other individuals involved in health care. The proposed regulations create special privileges based on gender identity that would lead to unreasonable and costly litigation for physicians, hospitals, insurers, and others involved in health care. They effectively would require controversial procedures, such as “sex-reassignment” surgery, that respected medical professionals argue have not been proven to be effective in treating serious mental health conditions. Every individual should be treated with dignity and respect, especially when he or she is in need of medical care. However, the proposed regulations would interfere with the doctor-patient relationship, threaten freedom of conscience, and advance bad public policy.