Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011

Summary

Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011 - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to permit a health plan to decline coverage of specific items and services that are contrary to the religious beliefs of the sponsor, issuer, or other entity offering the plan or the purchaser or beneficiary (in the case of individual coverage) without penalty.  Declares that such plans are still considered to: (1) be providing the essential health benefits package or preventive health services, (2) be a qualified health plan, and (3) have fulfilled other requirements under PPACA. Declares that nothing in PPACA shall be construed to authorize a health plan to require a provider to provide, participate in, or refer for a specific item or service contrary to the provider's religious beliefs or moral convictions. Prohibits a health plan from being considered to have failed to provide timely or other access to items or services or to fulfill any other requirement under PPACA because it has respected the rights of conscience of such a provider. Prohibits an American Health Benefit Exchange (a state health insurance exchange) or other official or entity acting in a governmental capacity in the course of implementing PPACA from discriminating against a health plan, plan sponsor, health care provider, or other person because of an unwillingness to provide coverage of, participate in, or refer for, specific items or services. Creates a private cause of action for the protection of individual rights created under this Act. Authorizes any person or entity to assert a violation of this Act as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding. Designates the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to receive and investigate complaints of discrimination based on this Act. Makes this Act effective as if it were included in PPACA.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 17 March 2011

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 17 March 2011

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 17 March 2011

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 28 March 2011

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 17 March 2011 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 17 March 2011

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 17 March 2011

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 17 March 2011

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Jeff Fortenberry · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Boren, Dan [D-OK-2] · D · Sponsor
• Cathy Rodgers · R · Sponsor
• Steve Scalise · R · Sponsor
• PATRICK TIBERI · R · Sponsor
• K. Conaway · R · Sponsor
• Doug Lamborn · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5] · R · Sponsor
• Daniel Lipinski · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1] · R · Cosponsor
• Stevan Pearce · R · Cosponsor
• Thomas Rooney · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Kingston, Jack [R-GA-1] · R · Cosponsor
• Steve King · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Forbes, J. Randy [R-VA-4] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Neugebauer, Randy [R-TX-19] · R · Cosponsor
• James Lankford · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Buerkle, Ann Marie [R-NY-25] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Huelskamp, Tim [R-KS-1] · R · Cosponsor
• H. Griffith · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. McCotter, Thaddeus G. [R-MI-11] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Paul, Ron [R-TX-22] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Canseco, Francisco "Quico" [R-TX-23] · R · Cosponsor
• Trent Franks · R · Cosponsor
• Christopher Smith · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Terry, Lee [R-NE-2] · R · Cosponsor
• Tom McClintock · R · Cosponsor
• F. SENSENBRENNER · R · Cosponsor
• Vicky Hartzler · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Schmidt, Jean [R-OH-2] · R · Cosponsor
• Adrian Smith · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Lewis, Jerry [R-CA-35] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Costello, Jerry F. [D-IL-21] · D · Cosponsor
• WALTER JONES · R · Cosponsor
• Rob Bishop · R · Cosponsor
• STEVE CHABOT · R · Cosponsor
• Gregg Harper · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Fitzpatrick, Michael G. [R-PA-8] · R · Cosponsor
• Marsha Blackburn · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Platts, Todd Russell [R-PA-19] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Schilling, Robert T. [R-IL-17] · R · Cosponsor
• Steven Palazzo · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Burton, Dan [R-IN-6] · R · Cosponsor
• ROBERT GOODLATTE · R · Cosponsor
• Randy Hultgren · R · Cosponsor
• Tim Murphy · R · Cosponsor

Showing 48 of 225 sponsors and actors.

Related records

• related to ← Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011