The Supreme Court announced Monday it will hear legal challenges over federal funding for abortions.
Without comment, the high court agreed to hear a group of cases concerning the Department of Health and Human Services’ rule that bans federal funding from going toward abortions through the family planning Title X program.
The Department of Health and Human Services under former President Donald Trump in 2019 changed the Title X program, preventing certain medical providers from supplying information related to abortion and instead required providers to give patients information on non-abortion options.
The rule also banned federal funding through the Title X program from going toward abortion services.
Medical groups challenged the rule, and lower courts split over its legality, which prompted the justices to review the issue.
The American Medical Association and Planned Parenthood Federation of America, along with aligned groups, brought the challenges against the Trump administration changes.
In a group statement issued Monday, they said the rule harms people across the country who can’t get access to reproductive health care.
“Tragically, but predictably, this disproportionately impacts Black and Brown patients who are more likely to face the worst health and economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement read.
“Title X has an essential role in ensuring that all Americans — regardless of where they live or how much money they make — have access to comprehensive reproductive health care. We remain committed to securing a swift outcome, whether from the court or the Biden administration, that will protect Title X patients, physicians, providers, and the health of the nation from further irreparable harm imposed by the current rule,” the statement added.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.
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