The HHS Contraception/Abortion Proposal
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary
ACTION: Proposed Rule
SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services proposes to promulgate regulations to ensure that, in accordance with the Church Amendments (42 U.S.C. § 300a-7), Public Health Service (PHS) Act §245 (42 U.S.C. § 238n), and the Weldon ( Read more... )
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary
ACTION: Proposed Rule
SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services proposes to promulgate regulations to ensure that, in accordance with the Church Amendments (42 U.S.C. § 300a-7), Public Health Service (PHS) Act §245 (42 U.S.C. § 238n), and the Weldon ( Read more... )
Secretary Michael O. Leavitt
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Dear Mr. Secretary:
It has come to our attention that the Department of Health and Human Services may be preparing draft regulations that would create new obstacles for women seeking contraceptive services.
One of the most troubling aspects of the proposed rules is the overly-broad definition of "abortion." This definition would allow health-care corporations or individuals to classify many common forms of contraception - including the birth control pill, emergency contraception and IUDs - "abortions" and therefore to refuse to provide contraception to women who need it.
As a consequence, these draft regulations could disrupt state laws securing women's access to birth control. They could jeopardize federal programs like Medicaid and Title X that provide family-planning services to millions of women. They could even undermine state laws that ensure survivors of sexual assault and rape receive emergency contraception in hospital emergency rooms.
We strongly urge you to reconsider these regulations before they are released. We are extremely concerned by this proposal's potential to affect millions of women's reproductive health.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely yours,
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
Senator Patty Murray
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