US health department investigates 13 states that require insurance plans to cover abortion
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The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is investigating 13 states for potentially violating the Weldon Amendment, a federal law that prohibits discrimination against healthcare entities that refuse to provide or cover abortions. The investigation, conducted by HHS's Office for Civil Rights (OCR), centers on state laws requiring state-regulated health insurance plans to cover abortion services. While HHS did not name the states, reports indicate they are California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Officials in New Jersey and Vermont have criticized the investigation, defending their state laws and vowing to protect abortion rights. The investigation marks a shift from the Biden administration's previous narrower interpretation of the Weldon Amendment.
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