Coalition Sues Trump Administration Over Religious Health-Care Rule

The Trump administration was sued by a coalition of almost two dozen states and cities over a new federal rule that will allow businesses and individuals to refuse health care services based on employees’ religious beliefs or moral convictions.

(Related: Judge Blocks Trump Contraception Opt-Out Rules Nationwide)

The rule, set to take effect in July, would allow health care employees including ambulance drivers, emergency-room doctors, receptionists and customer-service representatives at insurance companies to refuse care in violation of patients’ constitutional rights, according to the complaint filed Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan.

The plaintiffs, including the cities of New York and Chicago, say they risk losing billions of dollars in federal health care funding if states and municipalities fail to comply with the change. The Department of Health and Human Services has said the rule change is needed to protect the religious freedom of employees who may object to some health care procedures.