Conscience Protection Act of 2017

To amend the Public Health Service Act to prohibit governmental discrimination against providers of health services that are not involved in abortion. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Conscience Protection Act of 2017 2. Findings Congress finds as follows: (1) Thomas Jefferson stated a conviction common to our Nation’s founders when he declared in 1809 that [n]o provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of the civil authority (2) In 1973, the Supreme Court concluded that the government must leave the abortion decision to the medical judgment of the pregnant woman’s attending physician neither physician, hospital, nor hospital personnel shall be required to perform any act violative of personally-held moral principles (3) Congress’s enactments to protect this right of conscience in health care include the Church amendment of 1973 ( 42 U.S.C. 300a–7 42 U.S.C. 238n (4) None of these laws explicitly provides a private right of action (5) Defying the Federal Weldon amendment, California’s Department of Managed Health Care has mandated coverage for all elective abortions in all health plans under its jurisdiction. Other States such as New York and Washington have taken or considered similar action, and some States may go farther to require all physicians and hospitals to provide or facilitate abortions. On June 21, 2016, the Obama Administration concluded a nearly two-year investigation of this matter by determining that California’s decision to require insurance plans under the California Department for Managed Health Care authority to cover all legal abortion services did not violate the Weldon amendment. Until the new Administration is able to reverse this finding, individuals will have to choose between ignoring their conscience or forgoing health care coverage. (6) The vast majority of medical professionals do not perform abortions, with 86 percent of ob/gyns unwilling to provide them in a recent study (Obstetrics & Gynecology, Sept. 2011) and the great majority of hospitals choosing to do so in rare cases or not at all. (7) A health care provider’s decision not to participate in an abortion, like Congress’s decision not to fund most abortions, erects no new barrier to those seeking to perform or undergo abortions but leaves each party free to act as he or she wishes. (8) Such protection poses no conflict with other Federal laws, such as the law requiring emergency stabilizing treatment for a pregnant woman and her unborn child when either is in distress (Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act). As the previous Administration has said, these areas of law have operated side by side for many years and both should be fully enforced (76 Fed. Reg. 9968–77 (2011) at 9973). (9) Reaffirming longstanding Federal policy on conscience rights and providing a right of action in cases where it is violated allows longstanding and widely supported Federal laws to work as intended. 3. Prohibiting governmental discrimination against providers of health services that are not involved in abortion Title II of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 202 245A. Prohibiting governmental discrimination against providers of health services that are not involved in abortion (a) In general Notwithstanding any other law, the Federal Government, and any State or local government that receives Federal financial assistance, may not penalize, retaliate against, or otherwise discriminate against a health care provider on the basis that the provider does not— (1) perform, refer for, pay for, or otherwise participate in abortion; (2) provide or sponsor abortion coverage; or (3) facilitate or make arrangements for any of the activities specified in this subsection. (b) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed— (1) to prevent any health care provider from voluntarily electing to participate in abortions or abortion referrals; (2) to prevent any health care provider from voluntarily electing to provide or sponsor abortion coverage or health benefits coverage that includes abortion; (3) to prevent an accrediting agency, the Federal Government, or a State or local government from establishing standards of medical competency applicable only to those who have knowingly, voluntarily, and specifically elected to perform abortions, or from enforcing contractual obligations applicable only to those who, as part of such contract, knowingly, voluntarily, and specifically elect to provide abortions; (4) to affect, or be affected by, section 1867 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395dd Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (5) to supersede any law enacted by any State for the purpose of regulating insurance, except as specified in subsection (a). (c) Administration The Secretary shall designate the Director of the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services— (1) to receive complaints alleging a violation of this section, section 245 of this Act, or any of subsections (b) through (e) of section 401 of the Health Programs Extension Act of 1973; and (2) to pursue the investigation of such complaints in coordination with the Attorney General. (d) Definitions For purposes of this section: (1) Federal financial assistance The term Federal financial assistance (2) Health care provider The term health care provider (A) an individual physician, nurse, or other health care professional; (B) a hospital, health system, or other health care facility or organization (including a party to a proposed merger or other collaborative arrangement relating to health services, and an entity resulting therefrom); (C) a provider-sponsored organization, an accountable care organization, or a health maintenance organization; (D) a social services provider that provides or authorizes referrals for health care services; (E) a program of training in the health professions or an applicant to or participant in such a program; (F) an issuer of health insurance coverage; or (G) a group health plan or student health plan, or a sponsor or administrator thereof. (3) State or local government that receives Federal financial assistance The term State or local government that receives Federal financial assistance 245B. Civil action for certain violations (a) In general A qualified party may, in a civil action, obtain appropriate relief with regard to a designated violation. (b) Definitions For purposes of this section: (1) Qualified party The term qualified party (A) the Attorney General of the United States; or (B) any person or entity adversely affected by the designated violation. (2) Designated violation The term designated violation (A) section 245 or 245A of this Act; or (B) any of subsections (b) through (e) of section 401 of the Health Programs Extension Act of 1973 regarding an objection to abortion. (c) Administrative remedies not required An action under this section may be commenced, and relief may be granted, without regard to whether the party commencing the action has sought or exhausted available administrative remedies. (d) Defendants in actions under this section may include governmental entities as well as others (1) In general An action under this section may be maintained against, among others, a party that is a Federal or State governmental entity. Relief in an action under this section may include money damages even if the defendant is such a governmental entity. (2) Definition For the purposes of this subsection, the term State governmental entity (e) Nature of relief In an action under this section, the court shall grant— (1) all necessary equitable and legal relief, including, where appropriate, declaratory relief and compensatory damages, to prevent the occurrence, continuance, or repetition of the designated violation and to compensate for losses resulting from the designated violation; and (2) to a prevailing plaintiff, reasonable attorneys’ fees and litigation expenses as part of the costs. .

Summary: Conscience Protection Act of 2017 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to codify the prohibition against the federal government and state and local governments that receive federal financial assistance for health-related activities penalizing or discriminating against a health care provider based on the provider's refusal to be involved in, or provide coverage for, abortion. Health care providers include health care professionals, health care facilities, social services providers, health care professional training programs, and health insurers. The Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Department of Justice (DOJ), must investigate complaints alleging discrimination based on an individual's religious belief, moral conviction, or refusal to be involved in an abortion. DOJ or any entity adversely affected by such discrimination may obtain equitable or legal relief in a civil action. Administrative remedies do not need to be sought or exhausted prior to commencing an action or granting relief. Such an action may be brought against a governmental entity.