HHS Refusal Rule Comment Ltr re LGBT HIV Impacts - 2009.04.06 FINAL

JENNIFER C. PIZER SENIOR COUNSEL jpizer@lambdalegal.org April 6, 2009 BY ELECTRONIC MAIL Acting Secretary Charles E. Johnson and Staff Office of Public Health and Science Department of Health and Human Services Hubert H. Humphrey Building 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 716G Washington, DC 20201 Attn: Rescission Proposal Comments Email: proposedrescission@hhs.gov Re: Rescission Proposal – RIN 0991-AB49 Department of Health and Human Services –Proposed Rule Dear Secretary Johnson and Health and Human Services Department Staff: These comments are submitted in support of the proposal by the Department of Health and Human Services (“Department”) to rescind the December 19, 2008 final rule entitled “Ensuring That Department of Health and Human Services Funds Do Not Support Coercive or Discriminatory 1Policies or Practices in Violation of Federal Law” (the “Rule” or the “regulations”). The undersigned consist of thirty-eight organizations dedicated to serving the interests of people living with HIV and/or lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (“LGBT”) people, including ensuring that they have access to needed and desired health care services. We strongly support rescission of the Rule, as it is unnecessary, potentially very harmful, and confusing. The National Coalition for LGBT Health (“the Coalition”) and Lambda Legal present these comments on behalf of their organizations, the members of the Coalition, and the ...