Now Veiled, New HHS Rule Continues to Threaten Women's Health

For Immediate Release: Friday, August 22, 2008

Contact: Adrienne Ammerman, 202-588-5180

MEDIA ALERT

Now Veiled, New HHS Rule Continues to Threaten Women's Health

Statement by Marcia D. Greenberger,

Co-President of the National Women's Law Center:

"The National Women's Law Center strongly objects to the rule proposed Thursday by the Bush Administration's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The proposed rule - which follows an earlier leaked draft that incited a firestorm of public outrage -will harm women's health by impeding access to care and by denying women the information they need to make responsible decisions about their health and lives.

Despite the elimination of the most controversial language in the leaked draft which defined many common forms of contraception as abortion, the new version of the rule expands the universe of providers that can refuse contraception and other health care services, including abortion.

Even with some editing, the rule continues to allow doctors, nurses, and nearly any one else employed in a health care setting to deny women access to birth control based on their own personal belief that birth control is immoral - while making no mention of employers' ability to restrict activities that limit access to health services or information.

This rule goes beyond limiting access to birth control and abortion; it allows any employee of a health care provider working in a program that receives HHS funding to refuse to treat any individual receiving any service - if doing so would violate his or her moral beliefs-without regard for the needs of the patients.

This rule is dangerous, and is especially problematic because current federal employment law, Title VII, successfully strikes a careful balance by providing protection for the religious beliefs of all employees - including health care providers - while also allowing employers to ensure that patients get access to vital health care services and information.

The National Women's Law Center strongly opposes this proposed rule because of the havoc it would cause, and calls for health care policies that meet the needs of women and their families, not undermine them."