The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR), led by Paula Stannard, announced investigations into thirteen states for alleged violations of the Weldon Amendment, an anti-abortion federal appropriations policy that emboldens providers to deny abortion and other reproductive health services, even in medical emergencies. The investigations allege that the states’ laws requiring coverage of abortion services in certain state-regulated insurance plans may be coercing health care entities “to provide coverage of, or pay for, abortion contrary to conscience.” OCR has admittedly received no complaints to substantiate this claim. 

These investigations are the latest in a series of OCR actions aimed at limiting abortion access. Additional OCR regulatory action on health care refusals is expected imminently.