LANSING – Today, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel shared an open letter to Michigan health-care providers and patients with reminders on providing and seeking services in compliance with Michigan law.
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has issued executive orders limiting health-care options for minors as well as threatening to pull federal funding from health-care facilities and providers.
The letter notes for patients and health-care providers that, “the availability of federal funding has no bearing on Michiganders’ right to seek and receive health-care services without discrimination. Moreover, access to federal funds does not relieve Michigan healthcare facilities and providers of the obligation to comply with Michigan laws, including those that prohibit discrimination against individuals based on their membership in a protected class, such as religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or marital status. See, e.g., MCL § § 37.2102, 2202, 2302.
"Refusing healthcare services to a class of individuals based on their protected status, such as withholding the availability of services from transgender individuals based on their gender identity or their diagnosis of gender dysphoria, while offering such services to cisgender individuals, may constitute discrimination under Michigan law.”
Attorney General Nessel, in an accompanying video states, “Simply put: If you are seeking healthcare, continue to do so. If you are providing health care in compliance with Michigan law, please continue to do so.”
The complete, open letter to patients and providers can be found here.
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