U.S. House of Representatives
Bill HR 3400 (2009)
Empowering Patients First Act
30 July, 2009
S4203
Introduction
The following is an extract from a 268 page health care reform
bill introduced by Representative Tom Price. [Administrator]
SEC. 106. NON-DISCRIMINATION ON ABORTION AND RESPECT FOR RIGHTS OF
CONSCIENCE.
(a) NON-DISCRIMINATION.-A Federal agency or program, and any State or
local government that receives Federal financial assistance, may not subject
any individual or institutional health care entity to discrimination on the
basis that the health care entity does not provide, pay for, provide
coverage of, or refer for abortions.
(b) DEFINITION.-In this section, the term ''health care entity'' includes
an individual physician or other health care professional, a hospital, a
provider-sponsored organization, a health maintenance organization, a health
insurance plan, or any other kind of health care facility, organization, or
plan.
(c) ADMINISTRATION.-The Office for Civil Rights of the Department of
Health and Human Services is designated to receive complaints of
discrimination based on this section, and coordinate the investigation of
such complaints.
(d) CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION.-Nothing in this Act shall be construed as
forbidding a health plan or health insurance issuer to accommodate the
conscientious objection of a purchaser or an individual or institutional
health care provider when a procedure is contrary to the religious beliefs
or moral convictions of such purchaser or provider.