In September 2008, the Women’s Law Project joined dozens of women’s groups in opposing the Provider Conscience Regulation that was proposed on August 26, 2008, by the Department of Health and Human Services. The WLP believes that the breadth and vagueness of the Regulation create unnecessary confusion and may result in denial of health services and information to patients based on the moral beliefs of their provider. A copy of written comments submitted to the DHHS is available here (in PDF format).
On Monday, October 27, 2008, Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Henry Waxman (D – Calif.) submitted a letter to DHHS (in PDF format) in which he suggested that in issuing the Regulation, DHHS failed to “avoid regulations that are consistent, incompatible or duplicative with its other regulations or those of other federal agencies” as required by a 1993 executive order. The National Partnership for Women and Families discusses Rep. Waxman’s letter in greater detail here.
The Center for Reproductive Rights is keeping track of “What Will HHS Do?” here.
