Hospitals Nationwide Poised to Add LGBT-Inclusive Non-Discrimination Policies

Today I received this email from a friend I have not seen in a few years: My partner "died in August. I am reminded how we both talked at one of the (HRC) dinners regarding equal medical/hospital treatment. Fortunately for us, we live her in Columbus and Riverside Hospital was simply GREAT. I was there, my hand on his chest when he took his last breath. My heart goes out to those less fortunate who live in small (maybe large) communities which deny our gay brothers and lesbian sisters the right and dignity to say good bye to their partners.

clipped from www.hrcbackstory.org A new analysis of healthcare equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation found that the vast majority of U.S. healthcare facilities don’t have fully inclusive policies toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, but that sweeping new changes will soon dramatically alter how LGBT people interact with the healthcare system. Kaiser Permanente – one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health providers – updated its Patients’ Bill of Rights to fully protect LGBT patients and their families from discrimination. These changes, which took effect in Kaiser Permanente’s network of 36 hospitals today, make Kaiser Permanente the first large health network to have a fully inclusive non-discrimination policy for LGBT people. They are also the first health network to achieve Top Performer status in the HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI).

The HEI 2010 comes following President Obama’s memorandum in April directing the Department of Health and Human Services to make rules that require all hospitals that receive federal Medicare and Medicaid funding – nearly every hospital in America – to protect the visitation and healthcare decision-making rights of LGBT people. It also comes as the Joint Commission, which accredits and certifies healthcare facilities, has announced new, fully inclusive patient non-discrimination standards as part of their accreditation process. Together, these developments mean that LGBT healthcare equality is going to improve nationwide, in towns big and small, from New York to Mississippi to Utah to San Francisco.

HRC President Joe Solmonese commented: “The healthcare landscape for LGBT patients and their families is about to change dramatically. We all know horror stories of loved ones torn apart, already heart-wrenching decisions made even harder, and basic human rights denied. Bold action by the President and the Joint Commission mean many of those stories will be a thing of the past – and not a moment too soon, because as of right now huge challenges remain on the books.”

What You Need to Do:

While these changes are being put into place, it’s critical for LGBT people to ensure they’re prepared before tragedy strikes – particularly in preparing legal documentation like advance directives (such as a health care proxy or living will) and visitation authorization forms. Individuals should discuss these decisions with their primary care physician, file forms with local hospitals and carry the information on their person. More information and sample forms are in the section for LGBT patients at www.hrc.org/HEI.

We’ve also launched a nationwide action alert today targeted at state hospital associations encouraging them to implement and enforce the new Joint Commission standards as soon as possible. Tell them there isn’t a moment to wait while LGBT people are not ensured equal protection.

The HEI 2010 independently reviewed a representative sample of 200 of the largest healthcare facilities nationwide. The report found that in all 50 states – and even in historically LGBT-friendly cities like San Francisco and New York – there are facilities that do not fully protect LGBT people from healthcare discrimination. Ninety-three percent of healthcare facilities included in the study do not have fully inclusive policies toward LGBT people, and 42 percent don’t include “sexual orientation” in their Patients’ Bill of Rights/non-discrimination policy.

However, there are bright spots. The HEI 2010 also includes data from 178 facilities across the country that voluntarily provided information on patient non-discrimination, visitation, cultural competency training, and employment non-discrimination. Of the 178 facilities nationwide, 11 individual facilities and one network of 36 hospitals received perfect ratings, and many have made advances over the last three years since the HEI began. The HRC Foundation also provides hospitals with comprehensive resources to help ensure healthcare equality for LGBT people.

The HEI 2010 is dedicated to the memory of Lisa Pond and the advocacy of her partner Janice Langbehn. In 2007, when Pond was rushed to a hospital emergency room with a brain aneurysm, Langbehn and their children were kept from Pond as her life slipped away. Thanks to the tireless work of Langbehn and other advocates for health equality, this year the hospital updated its policies to protect the rights of LGBT patients and their families.