HHS to Unveil Proposed Rule to Protect Women’s Access to Abortion and Safeguard Privacy

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is set to propose a new rule on Wednesday, which will bar doctors, hospitals and health insurance plans from disclosing if a woman has had a legal abortion to criminal investigators. The proposed rule is in response to a Texas federal judge’s ruling late last week to suspend the US Food and Drug Administration’s approval of medication abortion drug mifepristone.

The proposed rule is intended to preempt attempts from GOP state legislatures to restrict out-of-state abortions. It will also safeguard privacy and prohibit the prosecution of individuals who seek abortions. Vice President Kamala Harris and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra will unveil the proposed rule at a meeting of an administration task force dedicated to protecting abortion rights on Wednesday afternoon.

The proposed rule comes as Vice President Harris is set to convene an interagency taskforce meeting on reproductive rights at the White House. The meeting will focus on protecting and expanding access to reproductive health care, including abortion, and will include representatives from the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Education.

The proposed rule is a significant step forward in protecting the rights of women to access safe and legal abortion. It will ensure that individuals seeking abortions are not subject to criminal prosecution and will help to ensure that women have access to the care they need without fear of retribution.