| While some have praised the policy as a necessary step to protect healthcare workers from discrimination, others worry it will lead to more discrimination for certain patient groups.  | The final rule aims to protect healthcare providers' right to refrain from participating in abortion and other services that violate the person or entity's rights conscience or religious views.
| | The controversial policy was proposed more than a year ago after HHS OCR launched its Conscience and Religious Freedom Division to ramp up enforcement of existing legal protections.
| | Some groups worry the change will lead to more discrimination against women and LGBT patients. |
"This rule ensures that healthcare entities and professionals won't be bullied out of the health care field because they decline to participate in actions that violate their conscience, including the taking of human life," said HHS OCR Director Roger Severino in a statement. Read the full story... | 
