Federal Judge Strikes Down Biden-Era Rule Protecting Abortion Records From Investigation

The court found the Department of Health and Human Services lacked authority to adopt the rule.
Federal Judge Strikes Down Biden-Era Rule Protecting Abortion Records From Investigation
A patient prepares to take the first of two combination pills, mifepristone, for a medication abortion during a visit to a clinic in Kansas City, Kansas, on, Oct. 12, 2022. Charlie Riedel/AP Photo
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A federal judge on Wednesday struck down a Biden-era rule that prevented abortion records from being accessed for investigations, finding the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the former administration exceeded its powers in adopting it.

The rule was issued through the Office for Civil Rights at HHS in 2024 based on its authority to protect patient privacy via the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).