U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist wants assurances that religious beliefs can not be used to deny health care, particularly for women, members of the LGBTQ community, and those living with HIV/AIDS.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-St. Petersburg, is once again calling for clarification whether religious beliefs can be used to deny health care under the recently established Conscience and Religious Freedom Division within the Office of Civil Rights.

In a letter Monday (Feb. 26), Crist and more than 40 members of the the LGBT Equality Caucus asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for assurance that the new division will not be used to shield medical providers who discriminate against patients by denying access to care. Monday’s letter is a follow up to a Jan. 26 letter asking for a similar assurance. (Click here for related story.)

U.S. Reps Mark Pocan, D-WI; Dan Kildee, D-MI; Alan Lowenthal, D-CA; and Mike Quigley, D-IL, helped lead this call for HHS reassurance that Americans will not be denied treatment and the medically necessary care they require, particularly for women, members of the LGBTQ community, and those living with HIV/AIDS.

Crist represents Florida’s 13th Congressional District, which includes south and mid-Pinellas County.

For information about Crist, go to crist.house.gov.

Charlie Crist | Health Care | LGBTQ | Discrimination | Health and Medicine | Tampabay News

Charlie Crist | Health Care | LGBTQ | Discrimination | Health and Medicine | Tampabay News