Democrats, Unmarried Military Veterans Could Be Refused Care Under New VA Policy
Source: Huff Post, Kelby Vera
Photo: The Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters in Washington DC on 13 February. (Bloomberg/Getty Images)
Democrats and unmarried military veterans could now be denied care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, based on new hospital bylaws obtained by The Guardian.
While doctors, psychologists, dentists and other medical professionals were previously required to treat people regardless of their “national origin,” “politics” and “marital status,” those protections have been removed in revised rules for VA medical centers.
The bylaws still prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, age, sex, religion, or disability.
The changes also leave the door open for doctors and other medical staff to be blocked from working for the VA based on their political affiliation, marital status or union activity.
Dr. Kenneth Kizer, the VA’s top health care official during the Clinton administration, told The Guardian the new rules could have broader implications, possibly allowing doctors to refuse treatment based on a veteran’s “reason for seeking care – including allegations of rape and sexual assault – current or past political party affiliation or political activity, and personal behavior such as alcohol or marijuana use.”
VA officials told The Guardian the updates were made to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” an anti-trans directive.
In a statement, VA press secretary Peter Kasperowicz dismissed the policy change at the agency as a “formality,” but did not deny the possibility it would allow medical professionals to refuse to care for patients based on personal characteristics that are not explicitly protected by federal health care regulations.
“All eligible veterans will always be welcome at VA and will always receive the benefits and services they’ve earned under the law,” Kasperowicz told the outlet, claiming that the changes were made to “ensure VA policy comports with federal law.”
According to The Guardian, the new policies have already gone into effect at some VA medical centers.
With more than 170 hospitals and 1,000 clinics, the VA is the U.S.’s largest integrated hospital system.