American Academy of Pediatrics Statement on Final Rule Protecting Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities

by: Benjamin Hoffman, MD, FAAP, president 
 
“The American Academy of Pediatrics applauds the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ final rule on Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities. This new rule comes at a time when patients are facing discrimination as they try to access evidence-based care, ranging from gender-affirming care to sexual and reproductive health care to maternity care. We welcome this rule as a critically important tool for protecting patients' access to medically necessary health care.  
 
“Many children and adolescents face discrimination in health care systems and settings that can impede their ability to access the services they need for healthy development. The impact of discrimination in childhood has been linked to toxic stress, which compounded over time predisposes them to a higher likelihood of chronic disease in adulthood and other long-term negative health outcomes. 
 
“For far too long, discrimination in health coverage and care has prevented many patients from getting the care they need to stay healthy while also directly contributing to health care disparities in communities. We urge swift implementation of the final rule, which is a critical step toward addressing systemic and structural inequities in health care that prevent children from getting the services they need to live healthy lives.” 

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.