Fwd: Huge breakthrough for California hospitals

Dear Patti, A new policy could end the horror stories of hospital discrimination. But until all hospitals adopt the new rules, the injustices could continue. Tell the hospital association in California to promote implementation of this policy NOW! This is big. Sweeping new changes will soon dramatically transform healthcare in the U.S. for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. The Joint Commission – the largest organization that accredits hospitals nationwide – has announced that, in the future, all hospitals in America will need to have a non-discrimination policy for LGBT patients on their books. Once the new rules are in place, the horror stories we've all heard of loved ones being met with hostility at the worst of times, of already heart-wrenching decisions made even harder, of people being denied care, will be a thing of the past – in California and every state in the nation. But it will be years before every hospital is on board. To ensure these new protections are implemented in California hospitals as soon as possible, we need your help. The California hospital association will play a crucial role in communicating the new rules, and we need to ensure that new policies are put in place as soon as possible. Tell the hospital association in California: families shouldn't be at risk of discrimination a single day longer. We need to implement these new rules immediately! You might not have known it, but as an HRC supporter you've played an important role in the Joint Commission's new accreditation standards. They credited HRC as one of the organizations whose work for healthcare equality helped expose why these new rules were so sorely needed. And it comes not a minute too soon. Just today, HRC released a new report showing that among 200 of the nation's largest hospitals, 93 percent do NOT have fully-inclusive non-discrimination policies that protect all LGBT people, and almost half don't include sexual orientation in their "Patients' Bill of Rights" or non-discrimination policy. Read HRC's Healthcare Equality Index 2010. Though the Joint Commission's announcement came just before an important memorandum from President Obama on hospital visitation, far too many same-sex couples are still paying the price for healthcare inequality. From the unfair taxation of employer-provided domestic partner health benefits, to the fact that most health insurance plans do not offer domestic partner benefits or healthcare benefits for transgender Americans – the need for further progress remains urgent. We can start by making sure the Joint Commission's new protections are implemented in California as soon possible, so that not one more family needlessly suffers. Write your letter to the hospital association in California today! Thank you for standing with us in the ongoing fight for healthcare equality. Warmly, Joe Solmonese President, HRC  Share on Facebook  Share on Twitter

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