While conservatives riveted their attention to passing an amendment to ban the use of federal health care funds on abortion, the U.S. House passed a health care reform bill Saturday night that includes a number of provisions of benefit specifically to the LGBT community.

The House bill -- HB 3962 -- includes a provision to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to address "health disparities" of a number of specific population groups, including those based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It makes people with HIV infection and low income eligible for Medicare coverage earlier in their illness. And it prohibits discrimination in health care based on "personal characteristics extraneous to the provision of high quality health care or related services."