Healthcare Equality Index 2009 Rating Criteria
The Healthcare Equality Index measures how equitably healthcare facilities in the United States treat their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender patients and employees. The index focuses on five main policy categories: patient non-discrimination; visitation; decision making; cultural competence training; and employment policies and benefits.
Rating Criteria for HEI 2009
1. Patient Non-Discrimination Policies
a. “Patients' Bill of Rights” and/or non-discrimination policy, sexual orientation
b. “Patients' Bill of Rights” and/or non-discrimination policy, gender identity or expression
[Patient Non-Discrimination Policies]
2. Visitation Policies
a. Visitation policies allow same-sex partners/spouses the same access as opposite-sex partners/spouses and next-of-kin
b. Visitation policies allow same-sex parents the same access as opposite-sex parents for visitation of their minor children
[Visitation Policies]
3. Decision-Making Policies
a. Recognize advance healthcare directives granting same-sex partners/spouses decision-making authority for their hospitalized partner/spouse
b. Policy allows same-sex parents the same rights as opposite-sex parents for medical decision making for their minor children*
[Decision-Making Policies]
4. Cultural Competency Training and Client Services
a. Cultural competency training that addresses sexual orientation and healthcare issues related to lesbian, gay and bisexual community
b. Cultural competency training that addresses gender identity and healthcare issues related to transgender community
[LGBT Cultural Competence]
5. Employment Policies and Benefits
a. Non-discrimination policy, sexual orientation
[Equal employment opportunity policies]
b. Non-discrimination policy, gender identity or expression
[Equal employment opportunity policies]
c. Domestic Partner Health Insurance
[Domestic Partner Benefits]
*This criterion is currently not rated in the Healthcare Equality Index report due to patchwork state LGBT parenting laws. The HEI survey will collect further information on same-sex parents and consent for treatment of a minor prior to rating participants on these policies.
