The shocking stories that led Louisiana to ban charging rape victims hefty medical fees
Washington Post
In 2013, a New Orleans college student went to the hospital at the urging of first responders after she awoke disoriented and naked in a public place and feared that she had been drugged and raped.
They assured her that she wouldn’t be charged to be examined. But a year later, a $2,254 bill arrived in the mail, according to an extensive Times-Picayune investigation last year.
There were many more women like her.
Another victim’s mother spoke at a Louisiana legislative hearing and reported that her family had received a $4,200 medical bill after her daughter went to the hospital following a sexual assault.
Another New Orleans victim told the Times-Picayune that she received a bill for $600 after her insurance covered a portion of her medical costs. Days later, she received another bill, for an additional $1,700.
The reports came as a shock to Louisiana lawmakers, who called for reform. Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) ordered an immediate review of the state’s procedures, decrying the double victimization of sexual assault victims.
Jindal is expected to sign two bills that together will reform the practice after the legislation passed unanimously this week.
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While the federal Violence Against Women Act prohibits victims from being charged for forensic rape exams, there are other costs — emergency room visits, pregnancy tests, HIV treatment — that must be borne by the victim, her family or an insurance company, who could then pass the cost on to the consumer.
In Louisiana, who pays and when was largely dependent on the parish and the hospital. That will change with this legislation, according to AP:
More
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2015/06/03/the-shocking-stories-that-led-la-to-ban-charging-rape-victims-hefty-medical-fees/?wpisrc=nl_govbeat&wpmm=1
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Some state anti-choicers claim no rape exemption in their unconstitutional denial of rights bills because claims are 'hard to prove." Following is an aside from the above article showing how misogynistic the lack of exemptions is.
The scientific research shows reports of rape are often murky, but rarely false
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/11/the-scientific-research-shows-reports-of-rape-are-often-murky-but-rarely-false/
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