HHS - Department for Health and Human Services

The Latest

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event at Montgomery County Community College Jan. 5, 2024, in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.

Biden administration drops protections for religious health care providers

Jan 10, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

A new rule formally rescinds certain provisions that guaranteed doctors and medical practitioners the ability to refuse to perform abortions. Read more

An inspector had deemed the Catholic chapel’s sanctuary candle a fire hazard.

UPDATE: Feds back off demand that Catholic hospital extinguish chapel candle

May 5, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Federal government regulators backed off their demands that a Catholic hospital extinguish its chapel candle. Read more

Cardinal Timothy Dolan attends Columbus Day parade in New York City.

Cardinal Dolan criticizes Biden administration for trying to force employers to cover contraception

Feb 1, 2023

By Matt McDonald

HHS announced a proposed rule that would leave in place the current exemption for religious employers but take away the... Read more

Sen. Marco Rubio  Credit: Christopher Halloran/Shutterstock

Rubio bill would block Biden from declaring public health emergency to expand abortion

Jan 31, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio introduced a bill that would prohibit the executive branch from expanding abortion access through a... Read more

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Major win for Catholic doctors fighting Biden’s transgender mandate after appeal deadline passes

Nov 29, 2022

By Edie Heipel

The proposal was strongly opposed by religious doctors, medical organizations, and the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. Read more

Emergency room doctors.

Would proposed Biden rule force doctors to perform transgender surgeries and abortions? 

Jul 28, 2022

By Edie Heipel

If finalized, the updated rule could be utilized to compel hospitals and doctors receiving federal funds to conduct procedures many... Read more

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, chair of the USCCB religious liberty committee

‘Dereliction of its duty’: US bishops rebuke Biden administration for dropping conscience rights lawsuit

Aug 12, 2021

By Joe Bukuras, Christine Rousselle

The U.S. bishops on Thursday criticized the Biden administration for dropping a conscience rights lawsuit. Read more

The Department of Health and Human Services at the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building.

Analysis: What a Xavier Becerra HHS could mean for Catholics

Dec 9, 2020

By Matt Hadro

On Monday, President-elect Joe Biden tapped California attorney general Xavier Becerra to head the Department of Health and Human Services.... Read more

Stock photo. Via Shutterstock.

Catholic wins right to 'last rites' in hospital ICU

Jul 21, 2020

By Matt Hadro

A Catholic woman has won her case to have a priest visit her critically-injured husband at a Maryland hospital, it... Read more

Stock image via Shutterstock

HHS: Hospital restrictions mean ‘too many dying alone’ during coronavirus

Jun 9, 2020

By Matt Hadro

Federal health officials say they hope the resolution of a disability rights case will help ensure hospital patients are deprived... Read more

California state capitol.

California doubles down on rule forcing Catholic nuns to pay for abortion

Feb 24, 2020

By Kevin J. Jones

Facing the threat of major cuts to federal HHS funds, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has said the state will... Read more

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar.

'No international right to abortion' says HHS Secretary

Jan 17, 2020

There is no international right to abortion, the U.S. health secretary told officials from more than 30 countries on Thursday... Read more

Blurred hospital hallway. Stock image, Shutterstock.

Federal judge blocks conscience protection rule for healthcare workers

Nov 6, 2019

Judge Paul Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York vacated the HHS rule in a 146-page decision, issued Wednesday.  Read more

Sign outside the Department of Health and Human Services building in downtown Washington, DC.

HHS changes rules to protect religious adoption agencies

Nov 1, 2019

By Matt Hadro

The rule change by the Department of Health and Human Services means that faith-based adoption agencies to continue receiving federal funding without matching children... Read more

Sign outside the Department for Health and Human Services, Washington DC. Via Shutterstock

HHS allocates $33m previously meant for Planned Parenthood

Oct 1, 2019

The Department of Health and Human Services announced on Monday that is allocating $33.6 million in Title X funding previously... Read more

Stock image of worried doctor. Via Shutterstock.

Polls show majority support in US for medical conscience protections

Sep 19, 2019

New poll results show that a large majority of Americans believe that healthcare professionals should not be forced to provide... Read more

Department for Health and Human Services, Washington, DC. Via Shutterstock

HHS says university hospital forced nurses to assist in abortions

Aug 28, 2019

By Matt Hadro

The Department of Health and Human Services announced that several nurses at the University of Vermont Medical Center report being forced to help... Read more

Stock image. Via Shutterstock.

HHS conscience rule essential for freedom say Catholic healthcare groups

Aug 23, 2019

Legal briefs filed Aug. 21 on behalf of four non-profit organizations, including the National Catholic Bioethics Center and the Catholic... Read more

Sign outside the Department of Health and Human Services building in downtown Washington, DC.

Bishops call for support for HHS rule change

Aug 13, 2019

August 13 is the last day on which the Department of Health and Human Services will receive feedback on the... Read more

Sign outside National Institute of Health, Department for Health and human Services, Washington DC. Via Shutterstock

HHS ends last research program to use human tissue from abortions

Jun 5, 2019

The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it declined to renew a contract with the University of California that funded a research... Read more