FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 14, 2023
Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and U.S. Representative Dan Bishop (R-NC-8) introduced the COVID-19 Vaccination Non-Discrimination Act to ensure that federal taxpayer dollars are not used to support health care facilities that deny care to patients based on their COVID-19 vaccination status.

“No American should be denied access to critical care based on a personal medical decision, yet tragically, many hospitals and other medical facilities continue to discriminate against those unvaccinated for COVID-19,” said Dr. Paul. The COVID-19 Vaccination Non-Discrimination Act will protect the rights of vulnerable patients to make their own health care choices and ensure that federal taxpayer dollars do not support facilities that turn away patients based on their COVID-19 vaccination status.”

“There’s no reason that medical facilities should deny care to people based on their COVID-19 vaccination status, and there’s certainly no reason for institutions that do so to receive any federal funding. Unfortunately, this is happening far too often, including in my home state of North Carolina. The COVID-19 Vaccination Non-Discrimination Act will remedy that injustice, and affirms that people have the right to make their own medical decisions,” said Rep. Bishop. 

In the Senate, the bill is currently cosponsored by Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI), Mike Lee (R-UT), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), J.D. Vance (R-OH), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND).

Background:

The American Medical Association (AMA) has urged physicians to refrain from denying care to patients based on vaccination status. Yet cases of individual transplant centers denying organ transplants to unvaccinated patients have emerged across the country. Recently, a 14-year-old girl who had recovered from a prior COVID-19 infection and thus had natural immunity, was refused a kidney transplant by Duke University Hospital because her parents had chosen not to have her vaccinated.

To set right these wrongs, the COVID-19 Vaccination Non-Discrimination Act would:

• Ensure that health care facilities that discriminate against patients based on their COVID-19 vaccination status are barred from receiving federal funds.
• Protect vulnerable patients’ right to make their own private health care decisions without being penalized for making those decisions.

There is no place in the medical profession for discrimination. The Hippocratic Oath demands that doctors care for their patients without prejudice and abstain from any intentional wrong-doing or harm. This bill will enshrine that basic principle in law.

You can read the COVID-19 Vaccination Non-Discrimination Act HERE. 

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