HHS proposes rule to roll back protections for transgenders under Obamacare

The U.S. health agency on Friday proposed a rule that would roll back protections for transgender patients under Obamacare. The proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would allow health providers to deny services to transgender patients. Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act passed during the Obama administration, extended civil rights protections in healthcare to gender identity and the termination of a pregnancy.

The agency's Office of Civil Rights said it has posted a proposed rule to roll back those provisions of the law. HHS said it has not enforced the protections since December 2016 after a federal court found they conflicted with a separate existing law. Typically after HHS proposes a rule, there is a 60-day comment period before the agency finalizes a measure.