Threats to Birth Control Access

The final HHS rule, issued on December 18, 2008, significantly limits patients’ access to health care and important information about their health care options. The final rule gives specific and detailed guidance to health care providers about a myriad of ways in which they can refuse to provide care to patients. Yet, it offers almost no guidance to ensure patients can get access to the care and information they need, and no guidance to health providers about how they can meet their patients’ needs in the face of employees’ refusals.