Constitutional Law

States Seek To Block New Health Care Services Regulation

Seven states have lodged a legal action challenging the Bush administration’s last-minute regulation that allows health care providers, citing religious reasons, to refuse to participate in providing abortions and other health care procedures. Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal filed the lawsuit in federal court and is seeking an order to stop the law from taking effect and a declaration that it is unconstitutional. At a press conference announcing the lawsuit, which is joined by California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon and Rhode Island, Blumenthal said the new rule would permit pharmacists and other health care providers to deny patients medical care, referrals or alternative ways to get treatment, The Hartford Courant reported. “This regulation is a solution in search of a problem, ideologically driven, contemptuous of women’s rights and the rights of all citizens and completely unconstitutional and unconscionable.”

The regulation has sparked opposition in Congress and among an array of civil liberties and medical association groups. Earlier this month, lawmakers, such as Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), announced they would look for ways to nullify the regulation. The regulation, which has long been promoted by religious lobbying groups, such as the Family Research Council, would apply to more than 584,000 health care facilities nationwide and potentially allow pharmacists, citing religious reasons, to block access to birth control. The Center for Reproductive Rights said the regulation would “drastically hinder women’s ability to get reproductive health services ….”

Full post as published by ACS Blog on January 16, 2009 (boomark / email).