Non-governmental barriers to reproductive justice

This presentation will address restrictions to health care access that are imposed by non-governmental entities, namely institutions and individuals who refuse to provide reproductive health care services based on their religious or moral beliefs. Much attention has been drawn to the issue with the 11th hour promulgation of the Bush Administration's HHS Refusal Rule. Despite the fact that the rule is expected to be rescinded or modified by the Obama administration by the time of the annual meeting, the debate will no doubt rage on. While the issuance and presumptive rescission of the HHS rule provided some opportunity for analysis and debate regarding religious and moral refusals, far more needs to be done on educating both the public and health care providers on the broad scope of services impacted by refusals and how refusals effect access to healthcare.

This presentation will discuss both institutions and individuals that refuse to provide certain health care services based on their religious beliefs or affiliation. It will also explore how other entities, including insurers, colleges, and employers, impose their opposition to certain services on those under their dominion. The presentation will include an analysis of the current legal framework regulating providers' right to refuse and how this framework accounts for the interests of both providers and patients.