Read the LGBTQ Healthcare Bill of Rights

THE LGBTQ HEALTHCARE BILL OF RIGHTS - Be an Informed Consumer

Several LGBTQ advocacy groups have partnered with Center Link the Community of LGBT Centers to promote equal healthcare treatment for the LGBTQ community and prevent discrimination by healthcare providers based on gender identity and sexual orientation. The LGBTQ Bill of Rights was released in November 2014, when open enrollment for obtaining health insurance through the Affordable Care Act began. The LGBTQ Healthcare Bill of Rights is intended to educate hospitals, healthcare providers and the consumers.

Read the Bill of Rights to be effective an advocate for yourself, your spouse, partners and friends. Do you know that:

• If you believe you have been discriminated against you can file a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services.  
• Under the Patient Visitation Rule you and your partner or spouse have the right to designate each other as the person to communicate with doctors and determine who can visit you when you are a patient in a hospital that accepts Medicare or Medicaid funding. The Privacy Rule specifically prohibits discrimination by hospitals based upon gender identity or sexual orientation.
•  It is very important to have medical advance directives so that if you are incapacitated the person you designate and trust (not necessarily your next-of-kin) can make your medical decisions. It is suggested that you have a Designation of Healthcare Surrogate, Living Will and HIPAA Authorization for Release of Confidential Medical Information. 
• HIPAA is the federal law that protects your confidential health information. That information can only be released to the person you designate in writing. If you think that confidential medical information has been released without your authorization or, that a healthcare employee has not respected your privacy and has released confidential information you can file a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services.

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