Faith-based clinics sue HHS over family planning program rules
By: Victoria Colliver, Politico, May 20, 2019
A California chain of faith-based clinics is suing HHS, claiming it can’t administer more than $5 million in federal family planning funds because current program rules infringe on its First Amendment rights.
The complaint in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, Calif., states the Obria Group has been put in an untenable situation because courts temporarily stayed new Trump administration rules for the Title X program that would have, among other things, barred providers in the program from offering or referring patients for abortions. Instead, Obria has to comply with existing standards that require recipients to offer contraception and counseling that includes discussing abortion.
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The watchdog Campaign for Accountability, which is suing HHS over access to documents connected to the policy changes, says Obria should have never sought grant money under rules antithetical to its religious beliefs. “Obria is seeking an alternate route to hold onto Title X funds while refusing to comply with the terms of that funding,” Alice Huling, the group’s counsel, wrote in an email.