To shield the privacy of women seeking legal abortions outside their home states, the Biden administration has unveiled a new rule on Monday. This action addresses growing concerns that women may face prosecution upon their return.
The rule was developed after a landmark court decision overturned decades of legal precedent that upheld the constitutional right to abortion, sparking widespread backlash. Since then, women in states controlled by Republicans have encountered obstacles in accessing reproductive care, even in cases of non-viable pregnancies and IVF treatment.
Melanie Fontes Rainer of the Office for Civil Rights emphasized that individuals should not live in fear of their private conversations with healthcare providers or health data being used against them. The rule strengthens the Health Insurance Portability Act (HIPAA) by prohibiting the disclosure of health information for investigations related to individuals obtaining legal reproductive healthcare services, including healthcare providers.
Rainer encourages individuals to file complaints if they believe their privacy rights have been violated. The Health and Human Services agency received nearly 30,000 public comments before implementing the new rule.
The issue of abortion rights has become a central focus of President Biden’s re-election campaign and played a role in the Democrats’ success in the 2022 midterm elections.
