Defense of Conscience in Health Care Act

This bill tells the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to bring back a set of rules that protect “conscience rights” in health care. These rules would let health care workers and organizations refuse to take part in services they object to for moral or religious reasons, like providing referrals for abortions, when federal funding is involved. The bill says HHS must put out a final rule that matches a 2019 rule and make it override any conflicting rules. It gives HHS up to six months after the bill becomes law to do this .

In plain terms, the 2019 rule added stronger enforcement, required certain certifications, and added penalties, but it never took effect because courts blocked it. In 2024, HHS put in place a different approach that mostly returned to the older system while keeping some parts, like having HHS’s Office for Civil Rights handle complaints. This bill would reverse that and require HHS to fully reinstate the 2019 rule as-is .

• Who is affected: Health care workers and organizations that get federal funds, patients who seek services, and HHS (which must enforce the rule) .
• What changes: HHS must issue a final rule matching the 2019 rule, with stronger enforcement, certification and cooperation requirements, and penalties; the new rule would override any conflicting rules now in place .
• When: Within 6 months after the bill becomes law .