Patient Organizations Applaud Release of Affordable Care Act Rule to Protect All Patients from Discrimination When Accessing Health Care

WASHINGTON, D.C. April 29, 2024 — The Epilepsy Foundation and partner patient groups applaud the newly released final rule on Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that will strengthen non-discrimination protections in health care. Together, the 32 undersigned organizations issue the following statement:

“Our organizations, which represent hundreds of millions of patients and consumers facing serious, acute, and chronic health conditions across the country, thank the Department of Health and Human Services for taking this significant step to protect all patients from discrimination with the new Section 1557 final rule. 

This new rule reinstates protections for everyone regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in covered health programs and activities, consistent with statutory intent and case law. 

Everyone should have access to the health care they need in a timely manner and without fear of discrimination. People with serious and chronic conditions are more likely to visit hospitals and doctors’ offices for treatment with these important protections in place. If they fear discrimination, they may delay or avoid care, which leads to worse health outcomes and higher costs for both the patient and the health care system. 

We are proud to support this rule as an important step toward health equity for all.” 

ALS Association 
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
American Heart Association
American Kidney Fund
American Lung Association 
Arthritis Foundation
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
Cancer Support Community
CancerCare
Child Neurology Foundation
Chronic Disease Coalition
Chron’s & Colitis Foundation
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Epilepsy Foundation
Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research 
Hemophilia Federation of America
Immune Deficiency Foundation
Lupus Foundation of America
Muscular Dystrophy Association
NMDP (National Marrow Donor Program) 
National Bleeding Disorders Foundation
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
National Eczema Association
National Health Council
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Organization for Rare Disorders
National Patient Advocate Foundation
National Psoriasis Foundation
Pulmonary Hypertension Association
Susan G. Komen
The AIDS Institute
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 
The Mended Hearts, Inc.
WomenHeart

About Epilepsy

According to the World Health Organization, epilepsy is the most common serious brain disorder worldwide with no age, racial, social class, national or geographic boundaries. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) estimates that 3.4 million people in the United States are affected by epilepsy. Epilepsy is the underlying tendency of the brain to produce seizures which are sudden abnormal bursts of electrical energy that disrupt brain functions. 

About the Epilepsy Foundation

With a network of partners throughout the United States, the Epilepsy Foundation is leading the fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy. The Foundation connects people to treatment, support, and resources; leads advocacy efforts; funds innovative research and the training of specialists; and educates the public about epilepsy and seizure first aid. For more than five decades, the Epilepsy Foundation has shone a light on epilepsy to promote awareness and understanding, and to advocate for laws that matter to people with epilepsy, while also funding epilepsy research and supporting epilepsy investigators and specialists in their early careers. In partnership with the CDC, the Epilepsy Foundation has helped to improve access to care for people with epilepsy, expanded its digital reach and online resources in homes across the country, and trained more than 600,000 people in seizure recognition and first aid. The Epilepsy Foundation continues to focus on serving the epilepsy community through advocacy, education, direct services, and research for new therapies. To learn more visit epilepsy.com or call 1.800.332.1000; in Spanish at 866.748.8008 or laepilepsia.org. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.