California Department of Insurance Issues Statement On Discriminatory Rule

SACRAMENTO, California, March 27 -- The California Department of Insurance issued the following statement by Commissioner Dave Jones:

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones submitted a letter (http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2018/upload/nr031HHSLetter.pdf) to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today strongly urging the Trump Administration to withdraw its proposed rule that would allow medical providers, medical facilities, insurers and others to discriminate against patients, delay or deny access to health care, and harm those whose medical care they are entrusted with.

"The Trump Administration's proposed rule conflicts with state and federal anti-discrimination protections and will harm patients and deny them needed medical care. This proposed rule interferes with California's strong civil rights protections for our residents.

"The Trump rule elevates the personal beliefs of some medical providers, insurers, and other health care entities over the rights of patients to access essential health care services.

"The Trump Administration rule encourages discrimination and should be immediately withdrawn, so that no patient has to worry that the federal government will deny them their rights to obtain medically necessary health care services. If not withdrawn, we will sue to stop the Trump rule from going into effect."