The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a plan to collect data to better understand the unique health challenges facing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Early this month, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius indicated that her department intended to collect this data, and this announcement comes alongside the publication of draft standards for health data collection under the Affordable Care Act.
“Secretary Sebelius continues to demonstrate her strong commitment to the health of all Americans, including the LGBT community, and we applaud her for it,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Quality data is a foundational step to understanding and addressing the health needs of LGBT people and, for the first time, the federal government has laid out a plan and a commitment to collecting that crucial information. Today’s announcement puts us on the road to healthier lives for LGBT people and their families.”
As part of its Blueprint for Positive Change, HRC urged the administration to take steps to collect data and address LGBT health disparities, and has continued to push HHS to do so. HRC has also lobbied Congress to include LGBT health data collection in the Affordable Care Act and to fully fund the inclusion of LGBT questions in federal health surveys and programs.
More information about the Department’s plan for the collection of LGBT health data is available here: http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/lgbt06292011a.html
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