Defense of Conscience in Health Care Act

This proposed legislation, known as the Defense of Conscience in Health Care Act , mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to re-establish specific regulations concerning conscience rights. Within six months of the bill's enactment, HHS must issue a final rule that is either identical or materially equivalent to the former rule found in 45 CFR Part 88, which was in effect on July 22, 2019, and focused on protecting statutory conscience rights in health care . This new rule is required to explicitly state that it supersedes any conflicting regulations in existence at the time of its issuance, thereby ensuring its primacy. The legislation also clarifies that the definition of "Federal conscience and anti-discrimination laws" will align with that provided in the reinstated former rule.