U.S. health agency revokes Obama-era Planned Parenthood protection
Reuters Staff
January 19, 2018 / 11:26 AM / Updated 38 minutes ago


(Reuters) - U.S. health officials on Friday said they were revoking legal guidance issued by the Obama Administration that had sought to discourage states from trying to defund organizations that provide abortion services, such as Planned Parenthood.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials also said the department is issuing a new regulation aimed at protecting healthcare workers’ civil rights based on religious and conscience objections.

The regulation protects the rights of healthcare workers from providing abortion, euthanasia, and sterilization, the officials said during a media call with reporters.

The announcement comes one day after HHS said it was creating a new division that would focus on conscience and religious objections, a move it said was necessary after years of the federal government forcing healthcare workers to provide such services.

HHS will issue a letter on Friday to state Medicaid offices that will rescind the Obama Administration’s 2016 guidance, which it had issued after states including Indiana had tried to defund abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood.

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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-h...n-idUSKBN1F820T


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2018
HHS Announces New Conscience and Religious Freedom Division
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https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2018/01/1...m-division.html


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2018
HHS Takes Major Actions to Protect Conscience Rights and Life
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https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2018/01/1...s-and-life.html