Statement of Commissioner Lara on Trump Administration Damaging New Health Rule
News: 2019 Press Release
SACRAMENTO, CA. - California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara responded to the release of the federal rule entitled “Protecting Statutory Conscience Rights in Health Care.”
“The Trump Administration has issued a damaging rule that permits health care providers to deny patients needed treatment, even life-saving treatment in emergencies, on the basis of the provider’s ‘religious or conscience’ objection. This rule invites discrimination and particularly threatens the health of women, members of the LGBTQ community, and persons living in communities with few medical treatment options. The rule even appears to permit medical providers to refuse to refer patients to other medical providers who could provide the necessary care. We need to ensure that Californians can obtain the care they need, rather than being turned away in the name of intolerance by someone in the healing profession. I will strongly support legal efforts to block this rule from going into effect.”
Led by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, the California Department of Insurance is the consumer protection agency for the nation's largest insurance marketplace and safeguards all of the state’s consumers by fairly regulating the insurance industry. Under the Commissioner’s direction, the Department uses its authority to protect Californians from insurance rates that are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, oversee insurer solvency to pay claims, set standards for agents and broker licensing, perform market conduct reviews of insurance companies, resolve consumer complaints, and investigate and prosecute insurance fraud. Consumers are urged to call 1-800-927-4357 with any questions or contact us at www.insurance.ca.gov via webform or online chat. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357. Teletypewriter (TTY), please dial 800-482-4833.
