HHS Proposes New Federal Rule Limiting Health Workers’ Religious, Conscience Rights

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra joins a panel during the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), a meeting of international leaders that looks to help solve global problems, in New York City on Sept. 19, 2022. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials are proposing new federal regulations they claim will better protect the religion and conscience rights of individuals seeking or providing health care services.

The proposed regulation—the Safeguarding the Rights of Conscience as Protected by Federal Statutes—was posted in the Federal Register on Dec. 29 for a 60-day comment period, after which officials in the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will post a final version before implementation.