April 20, 2023

Biden Admin to Launch National Abortion Referral Hotline

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra
photo credit: Gage Skidmore / Flickr
Last week, the Biden administration's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a "Notice of Funding Opportunity," seeking Title X grantees to launch an abortion referral hotline as part of the Title X program. The HHS expects to provide $1.5 million in grant funding to the recipient who establishes the hotline.

The "Title X Nondirective Options Information, Counseling, and Referrals Hotline" would offer counseling and referrals for abortion, prenatal care and delivery, infant care, adoption, and foster care.

A Title X grant recipient operating the hotline would be expected to "establish and operate a national hotline, develop and maintain a detailed national list of nondirective options referral service sites, and build and maintain a national website to compliment the hotline."

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a press release to coincide with the announcement.

“When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, nearly half a century of precedent changed overnight,” said Secretary Xavier Becerra. “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to protecting women’s lawful access to reproductive health care, including abortion care. President Biden signed not one but two executive orders calling on HHS to take action to meet this moment and we have wasted no time in doing so. Today’s action is yet another important step HHS is taking to protect patients accessing critical care.”