From: buckmr@rpi.edu (Ron Buckmire) Subject: HRCF Press Release: McFeeley Testifies Before Congress on Health Care Date: 3 Feb 1994 14:24:44 -0600 PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FUND The nation's largest lesbian, gay and bisexual political group FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Gregory King (202) 628-4160 work (202) 547-4310 home McFEELEY CALLS FOR NON-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTION FOR LESBIAN AND GAY AMERICANS IN HEALTH CARE REFORM WASHINGTON, DC (January 31, 1994) In testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health and the Environment, the executive director of America's largest lesbian and gay political group today called on Congress to protect lesbian and gay Americans from discrimination in health care reform. "Documented experiences of the lesbian and gay community in the current health care delivery system demonstrate the need to include us in the anti-discrimination provisions of the law you enact," said Tim McFeeley, executive director of the Human Rights Campaign Fund. "The bill as it is currently drafted does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. It should." McFeeley testified on behalf of four national lesbian and gay organizations: the Human Rights Campaign Fund, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and American Association of Physicians for Human Rights. "Our organizations represent millions of lesbian and gay men whose needs have been overlooked by the mainstream health care delivery system," McFeeley said. He cited high rates of chronic, life threatening diseases, "including HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, breast and cervical cancer." McFeeley also noted the "special confidentiality concerns" of lesbian and gay Americans and the failure of the health and legal systems to recognize "our most intimate family relationships" as other issues that affect the community's access to health care. McFeeley called for specific language to include "non- traditional families" in the health care reform bill. Unless they are specifically included in the plan, members of non-traditional families will be denied the lower family premium rate and be unable to participate in collateral mental health services. McFeeley said the legislation should be modified "to include a more accurate and comprehensive definition of family." In a direct challenge to members of Congress who deny there is a health care crisis in the United States today, McFeeley outlined the problems his organization currently faces in finding health insurance for its employees after their insurer filed for bankruptcy. "We have spent months trying to obtain new coverage. But company after company, broker after broker, tells us we are too small and have had too many claims" as a result of HIV/AIDS. "For other small employers, other catastrophic conditions put them in the same crisis," McFeeley said. If members of Congress believe that no crisis exists or believe all small employers can obtain coverage, McFeeley said: "I would appreciate their help in finding health insurance." - 30 - 1012 14th Street, NW Suite 607 Washington, DC 20005 phone:(202)628-4160 fax:(202) 347-5323 --- RON BUCKMIRE, 11 Colvin Circle, Troy, NY 12180-3735. ``Love Your Gender!'' uunet!rpi.edu!buckmr||buckmr@rpitsmts.bitnet||buckmr@rpi.edu||+1 518 276 8910 MaliVai Washington, Eric Nies, Marky Mark, Jake Tanner and Richard Grieco.