Last week, the Trump Administration announced the formation of a new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights, and then issued proposed rules allowing health care providers to refuse medical care due to religious or moral objections. This new division has the potential to undermine civil rights protections, and the new rules may lead to discrimination against women and LGBTQ people, denying them not only needed care, but also the information they need to make informed health care decisions and find alternative medical providers when they are refused care. NoHLA will comment on these proposed rules and will share information about how you can comment in a future newsletter. The deadline for comments is March 27.

There is also a new head honcho at HHS. Former drug company executive, Alex Azar, was confirmed by the Senate yesterday to replace Tom Price, who left amid scandal.