DeGette and Slaughter Reintroduce Legislation to Stop HHS Refusal Rule

Press Release

DeGETTE AND SLAUGHTER REINTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO STOP HHS REFUSAL RULE

U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Committee on Rules, co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, were joined by a coalition of Members of Congress today to reintroduce legislation to stop the Bush Administration's last-minute attempt to put ideology before science with the HHS "Refusal Rule." This rule would permit healthcare workers to refuse to perform or assist in any healthcare service they find morally objectionable, regardless of patients' healthcare rights and needs.
The Protecting Patients and Health Care Act would block the "Refusal Rule" from taking effect. The rule was finalized by the Bush Administration on December 19, 2008 and is scheduled to go into effect on January 20, 2009.

"Even in its final days, the Bush Administration continues to pursue its extreme ideology over sound public health policies," said Rep. DeGette. "This dangerous and misguided rule would restrict access to vital health services and create chaos for health care providers. We look forward to working with the Obama administration and with our colleagues in Congress on stopping this rule­—whether by executive or Congressional action."

"Eight long years of trouncing on women's reproductive rights and playing politics with science has obviously not been enough for this Administration," said Rep. Slaughter. "As its parting gift to women across the country, the Administration has pushed this midnight regulation through the approval process. This sweeping rule goes beyond a woman's right to choose, beyond a woman's right to contraception and puts every American's access to health care at risk."

Under current law, employers are already required to reasonably accommodate employee and applicant religious beliefs and practices. In contrast, the Refusal Rule is written so broadly that it would allow any employee, volunteer, or trainee of a health care provider to refuse to perform or "assist in the performance" of any health care service to any individual if doing so would violate his or her religious beliefs or moral convictions—without any mention of the needs of the patient. The Bush Administration's own Equal Employment Opportunity Commission opposed the rule, calling it "unnecessary for protection of employees and applicants," "potentially confusing" to the health care community, and "a burden on covered employers, particularly small employers"

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