Featured Story
06.22.2020
LGBTQ Discrimination Has No Place in Vermont
In follow up to our unequivocal statement on June 15 regarding access to all in our community, NMC has joined other Vermont hospitals and healthcare providers and Vermont Legal Aid in issuing this statement today:
“LGBTQ Discrimination Has No Place in Vermont
As leaders in Vermont’s health care system, we are committed to providing care and services without discrimination, regardless of who you are and who you love. Vermont’s hospitals, providers, health care professionals, and insurers will not change our practices based on new federal guidance that attempts to strip protections from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people.
Every LGBTQ Vermonter must be able to access health care without fear of discrimination. Vermont law protects LGBTQ people from discrimination in health care today, and Vermont’s
health care community stands united against this discrimination.
Along with our continued commitment to provide care and services without discrimination, we recommit to improving the ways we serve the LGBTQ community. If you do experience health care discrimination or other issues accessing care, you have resources:
● You can contact the Pride Center of Vermont’s SafeSpace Anti-Violence Program during office hours at 802-863-0003 or by emailing [email protected] . The SafeSpace Anti-Violence Program’s mission is to end violence and discrimination in the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected (LGBTQ+) people in Vermont.
● You can contact the Department of Financial Regulation by phone at 833-DFR-HOTLINE or by email at [email protected] . DFR is committed to ensuring Vermonters, especially those in marginalized and vulnerable communities, have access to medically necessary care.
● You can contact the Health Care Advocate HelpLine by phone at 800-917-778 or by email at [email protected] . The Office of the Health Care Advocate is a free resource available to help everyone in Vermont solve problems related to health care, including health insurance and health care access.”
As we at NMC said initial in response to the Federal action, “When NMC says our mission is to provide exceptional care of our community, we mean our WHOLE community. NMC providers are honored to take care of our LGBTQ neighbors. Thank you to the Vermont Diversity Health Porject and Pride Center of Vermont for lighting the way.”
— NMC is pleased to be joined in signing this statement by: AIDS Project of Southern Vermont; Bi-State Primary Care; BC/BS of Vermont; VT Dept of Financial Regulation; Health First; HIV/HCV Resource Center; Office of the Healthcare Advocate; Planned Parenthood of Northern New England; Recovery House; our fellow members of the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems; Vermont Association of Naturopathic Physicians; Vermont Care Partners; Vermont CARES; Vermont Free & Referral Clinics; Vermont Long-Term Care Ombudsman Project; Vermont Medical Society; Vermont Program for Quality in Healthcare; and the VNAs of Vermont. That’s strong company in support of access for all in our State.
