Doctors at Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities now have the discretion to deny care to certain patients based on criteria such as marital status or political beliefs, following an executive order by President Donald Trump.
The executive order, dated January 30, intended to restrict gender-affirming healthcare for transgender veterans. However, as The Guardian highlighted, its ambiguous language has prompted some hospitals to interpret it as allowing care denial to any group not specifically protected under federal law.
Federal civil rights laws explicitly protect against discrimination based on race, color, religion, and sex.
A spokesperson for the advocacy group VoteVets criticized the policy, stating, “Trump’s VA just allowed doctors to deny care to Democrats, unmarried veterans, among other groups. It’s unethical, authoritarian, and every one of us should be outraged.” The potential refusal of care is not limited to doctors but extends also to chiropractors, nurse practitioners, and social workers.
This development coincides with President Trump and Republican efforts to negotiate a tax and budget bill aiming to cut at least $625 billion from Medicaid. Medicaid is a crucial insurance source for nearly 2 million veterans.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, an estimated 7.6 million Americans could lose health coverage due to the proposed Medicaid cuts. This change threatens the financial stability of hundreds of rural hospitals, which largely depend on Medicaid funding.
Approximately 25% of veterans reside in rural regions, making them particularly vulnerable to these healthcare changes.
While VA press secretary Peter Kasperowicz did not challenge The Guardian’s report, a White House-affiliated social media account labeled the report as a “vicious lie,” without specifying inaccuracies.
Senator Patty Murray of Washington, a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, expressed strong disapproval of the policy. She stated, “President Trump is going out of his way to discriminate against veterans and ripping up the sacred contract we make with our veterans that we will take care of them when they come home, and that they are entitled to the best health care our nation has to offer.” In her statement, Murray condemned the policy as “bigotry, plain and simple,” urging bipartisan opposition.
The White House did not provide comments on this issue.
The post Trump order lets VA doctors deny care based on politics, marital status appeared first on American Journal News.
—
Read More Kitchen Table News
Be First to Comment