Gov bans anti-trans med bias

Seeking to blunt the effects of a potential Obamacare repeal, Gov. Cuomo on Sunday announced measures to protect transgender New Yorkers’ access to health care.

New York hospitals will have to update their patients’ rights statements to prohibit discrimination against transgender people, Cuomo said.

And state financial regulators will be asked to beef up rules preventing health insurance companies from discriminating against transgender people.

Cuomo cast the moves as vital to the health of transgender New Yorkers as the Trump administration ramps up its efforts to dismantle key parts of Obamacare.

“New York was founded upon the principles of fairness and equality and we won’t stand idly by while Washington seeks to claw back hard-earned rights and protections,” Cuomo said at the New York City Pride Breakfast.

“For every step the Trump administration takes backwards, New York will take two steps forward,” the governor added.

Cuomo drew applause from hundreds of people when he made the announcement at the New York City Pride Breakfast, which was held before Sunday’s Pride March.

“I think it’s great that he’s standing against Trump’s bigotry,” said breakfast attendee Jewelle Troutman, 19, of Long Island. “He’s sticking to the side of the LGBT community and helps us get the care that we deserve and that we need.”

The Justice Department earlier this month signaled that it believes the Affordable Care Act’s requirement to carry health insurance, as well as its provisions that protect people with preexisting medical conditions, are unconstitutional.

If the courts agree, large parts of the act could be wiped away.