Democrats and unmarried military veterans could now be denied care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, The Guardian reported, citing new VA hospital bylaws it had obtained.
While doctors, psychologists, dentists and other medical professionals were previously required to treat people regardless of their “national origin,” “politics” and “marital status,” those protections have been removed in revised rules for VA medical centers, according to The Guardian.
The changes also leave the door open for doctors and other medical staff to be blocked from working for the VA based on their political affiliation, marital status or union activity, The Guardian reported, citing the documents it had reviewed.
Dr. Kenneth Kizer, the VA’s top health care official during the Clinton administration, told The Guardian the new rules could have broader implications, possibly allowing doctors to refuse treatment based on a veteran’s “reason for seeking care – including allegations of rape and sexual assault – current or past political party affiliation or political activity, and personal behavior such as alcohol or marijuana use.”
In a statement to The Guardian, VA press secretary Peter Kasperowicz dismissed the policy change at the agency as a “formality,” but reportedly did not deny the possibility it would allow medical professionals to refuse to care for patients based on personal characteristics that are not explicitly protected by federal health care regulations.
“All eligible veterans will always be welcome at VA and will always receive the benefits and services they’ve earned under the law,” Kasperowicz told the outlet, claiming that the changes were made to “ensure VA policy comports with federal law.”
The VA’s deputy assistant secretary for public affairs, Macaulay Porter, echoed Kasperowicz in telling HuffPost that the changes were a “formality” to ensure compliance with White House executive orders, such as the anti-trans order “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government.”
“These updates will have no impact whatsoever on who VA treats or employs,” she said, calling The Guardian’s reporting “false and defamatory.”
She also told HuffPost that federal law and VHA Directive 1019 would still make refusing care based on politics, marital status and national origin illegal.
With more than 170 hospitals and 1,000 clinics, the VA is the U.S.’s largest integrated hospital system.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This piece has been updated with comments from the VA rebutting The Guardian’s reporting.