No LGBT Provisions in House Health Care Bill

The House passed a historic bill that could change the American health care system, but specific provisions for LGBT citizens were not included in the final legislation.

The 219-212 vote came on Sunday evening after months of lobbying and heated debate in Congress as well as across the country.

Provisions proposed by lesbian congresswoman Tammy Baldwin were not included in the final version of the bill, although they had been approved in the original House legislation. Her additions were banning discrimination against LGBT people, the Early Treatment for HIV Act, ending taxation of domestic-partner health insurance, and launching a program to study LGBT health and discrimination.

The bill passed Sunday evening will have some relief for people with HIV on Medicare who have to buy expensive medication, according to Keen News Service.

The health care bill, as passed on Sunday, would extend coverage to 32 million uninsured people in the country and would require insurance companies to cover people despite preexisting conditions, the Los Angeles Times reports. It was also require new taxes and cuts in Medicare. The plan is projected to cost $940 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.