Re: RIN 0991-AB49
Dear Secretary:
I am writing in strong support of President Obama's action (re:
"Rescission Proposal") to reverse the refusal regulation published by
the Department of Health and Human Services in December 2008. This
regulation has the potential to hinder women's access to and
information about birth control and other essential health-care
services. It could go so far as to allow insurance companies to deny
claims for the pill; hospitals to refuse emergency contraception to
rape survivors; and employees at HMOs to refuse their patients
referrals for abortion care. It would seriously jeopardize patients'
ability to receive quality, comprehensive health care.
In this
time of economic crisis, our lawmakers should be working to ensure that
all Americans, especially those who have lost their jobs and health
benefits, have access to the full range of health services. This
regulation does nothing to ensure that women who have been hurt by the
economy can access basic reproductive-health care, and in fact does
just the opposite. We urge you to rescind this regulation.
Respectfully submitted,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Federal Register: March 10, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 45)][Proposed Rules]
[Page 10207-10211]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10mr09-21]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
45 CFR Part 88
RIN 0991-AB49
Rescission of the Regulation Entitled ``Ensuring That Department
of Health and Human Services Funds Do Not Support Coercive or
Discriminatory Policies or Practices in Violation of Federal Law'';
Proposal
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services proposes to
rescind the December 19, 2008 final rule entitled ``Ensuring That
Department of Health and Human Services Funds Do Not Support Coercive
or Discriminatory Policies or Practices in Violation of Federal Law.''
The Department believes it is important to have an opportunity to
review this regulation to ensure its consistency with current
Administration policy and to reevaluate the necessity for regulations
implementing the Church Amendments, Section 245 of the Public Health
Service Act, and the Weldon Amendment.
DATES: Submit written or electronic comment on the regulatory changes
proposed by this document by April 9, 2009.
ADDRESSES: In commenting, please refer to ``Rescission Proposal.'' To
better manage the comment process, we will not accept comments by
facsimile (FAX) transmission.
You may submit comments in one of four ways (no duplicates,
please):
1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on this
regulation to
http://www.Regulations.gov or via e-mail to
proposedrescission@hhs.gov. To submit electronic comments to
http://
www.Regulations.gov, go to the Web site and click on the link ``Comment
or Submission'' and enter the keywords ``Rescission Proposal.''
[Attachments should be in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or Excel;
however, we prefer Microsoft Word.]
2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments (one original and
two copies) to the following address only: Office of Public Health and
Science, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: Rescission
Proposal Comments, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence
Avenue, SW., Room 716G, Washington, DC 20201.
3. By express or overnight mail. You may send written comments (one
original and two copies) to the following address only: Office of
Public Health and Science, Department of Health and Human Services,
Attention: Rescission Proposal Comments, Hubert H. Humphrey Building,
200 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 716G, Washington, DC 20201.
4. By hand or courier. If you prefer, you may deliver (by hand or
courier) your written comments (one original and two copies) before the
close of the comment period to the following address: Room 716G, Hubert
H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20201. (Because access to the interior of the Hubert H. Humphrey
Building is not readily available to persons without federal government
identification, commenters are encouraged to leave their comments in
the mail drop slots located in the main lobby of the building. A stamp-
in clock is available for persons wishing to retain proof of filing by
stamping in and retaining an extra copy of the documents being filed.)
Inspection of Public Comments: All comments received before the
close of
[[Page 10208]]
the comment period are available for viewing by the public, including
any personally identifiable or confidential business information that
is included in a comment. We post all comments received before the
close of the comment period on the following Web site as soon as
possible after they have been received:
http://www.Regulations.gov.
Click on the link ``Comment or Submission'' on that Web site to view
public comments.
Comments received timely will also be available for public
inspection as they are received, generally beginning approximately 3
weeks after publication of a document, at the headquarters of the
Department of Health and Human Services, Hubert H. Humphrey Building,
200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201, Monday through
Friday of each week from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Electronic Access
This Federal Register document is also available from the Federal
Register online database through GPO Access, a service of the U.S.
Government Printing Office. Free public access is available on a Wide
Area Information Service (WAIS) through the Internet and via
asynchronous dial-in. Internet users can access the database by using
the World Wide Web (the Superintendent of Documents' home page address
is
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/), by using local WAIS client software, or
by telnet to swais.access.gpo.gov, then login as guest (no password
required). Dial-in users should use communications software and modem
to call (202) 512-1661; type swais, then login as guest (no password
required).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mahak Nayyar, (240) 276-9866, Office
of Public Health and Science, Department of Health and Human Services,
Room 716G, Hubert E. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20201.