§238n Abortion-related Discrimination in Governmental Activities Regarding Training and Licensing of Physicians

Summary

Federal and state or local governments that get federal money must not treat a health care provider badly because it won’t take part in or teach induced abortions, won’t perform them, won’t make referrals for them, or won’t arrange for such training. They also can’t punish a provider for having attended a residency or other health training program that did not do or require abortion training. If an accrediting group would deny accreditation only because a residency program won’t require abortion training, the government must treat that program as accredited and must make rules or agreements with accreditors to make that happen. Loan programs that need accredited internships or residencies must follow this rule. Providers may still choose on their own to train, perform, or refer for abortions, and accrediting bodies or governments may set skill standards for people who voluntarily choose to do abortions. “Financial assistance” means government payments that pay back health-related work. “Health care entity” means a doctor, a training program, or a trainee. “Postgraduate physician training program” means a residency program.