Bill Summary

Current federal law protects individual physicians and other healthcare professionals should they conscientiously object to performing abortions. Unfortunately, hospitals and entire health systems are not afforded similar protections. As a result, some hospitals, in particular Catholic hospitals,have been pressured into providing abortions or face closure as punishment for non-compliance. The Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (ANDA) amends the Public Health Service Act to extend protection to hospitals, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), provider-sponsored organizations (PPOs), health insurance plans, and any other type of health care facility, organization, or health plan currently allowed under the law.

Bill Status

Senator David Vitter (R-LA) introducedANDA and it was referred to Committee in January 2007.

Bill History

Versions of this measure were included as a rider in the Labor Health and Human Services Appropriations Acts of 2005, 2006 and 2007. It would be preferable to have the measure permanently signed into law as a separate bill, since appropriations riders only apply to the current budget year and are not assured to continue in future budgets.