NATIONAL POLITICS & POLICY | Obama Administration Moves To Rescind Provider 'Conscience' Rule
[March 9, 2009]

The Obama administration on Friday moved to rescind the HHS provider "conscience" rule, which "was pushed through by former president George W. Bush" and according to Bush administration officials was meant to interpret laws that accommodate workers who refuse to provide health services or information they object to on moral or religious grounds, Reuters reports (Fox, Reuters, 3/6).

In its filing, HHS said it was "proposing to rescind" the rule "in its entirety," adding that it "believes that the comments on the ... proposed rule raised a number of questions that warrant further careful consideration" (AFP/Google.com, 3/7). The agency added that there were concerns that the rule "would limit access to patient care" and that some people, especially those in rural and underserved areas, could be denied access to care. "It is important that the department have the opportunity to review this regulation to ensure its consistency with current administration policy."

Marcia Greenberger of the National Women's Law Center said the Obama administration "deserves great praise for its move ... to rescind this harmful rule, which serves only to undermine patients' access to vital health care services and information and poses especially grave risks to women's health and lives" (Reuters, 3/6). Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said the move to rescind the rule is a "common-sense fix," adding, "Patients, especially low-income women, deserve access to complete and accurate health care information and services and today's action shows that this administration understands and will meet this need."

Kim Gandy, head of the National Organization for Women, added that the move is a "victory for women who rely on access to a full range of family planning services, and a victory for patients who deserve full information and medical care that is not withheld without their knowledge or consent" (AFP/Google.com, 3/7).





The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.

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