July 2, 2021

Proposed HHS Rule Allows Affordable Care Act to Pay for Abortions

Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT)
On Tuesday, the chair of the Senate pro-life caucus criticized a proposed rule published by the Department of Health and Human Services that would allow taxpayer funds to pay for elective abortions through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

“Abortion is not healthcare and taxpayers should not be subsidizing it,” said Senate Pro-Life Caucus chair Steve Daines (R-MT) on Tuesday. “This is another move by President Biden and Secretary Becerra to promote their abortion agenda above following the law, and is even more alarming as Democrats look to increase taxpayer subsidies for Obamacare,” he continued.

The ACA originally contained Hyde Amendment language when it was passed by the Obama administration, making it illegal for federal funds to subsidize abortion through the program. A 2014 Government Accountability Office report found that many insurers ignored these requirements, however, and abortion coverage was not being separated from other kinds of health insurance coverage.

Federal courts blocked President Trump's 2019 attempt to prohibit abortion funding through the Affordable Care Act by requiring separate bills for abortion coverage.

The new rule would only require a single bill and payment of federally-covered services, including abortion coverage.

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