North Carolina Health Care Conscience Protection (HB 730)

HB 730 contains two provisions limiting abortion coverage under insurance plans and protecting health-care providers who refuse to participate in abortion services on the basis of their conscience.

Conscience Protection

The bill would have allowed any nurse or health-care provider who states an objection to abortion on moral, ethical, or religious grounds to refuse to participate in any medical procedure resulting in an abortion. The bill would have prohibited any disciplinary action from being taken against a health-care provider for his or her refusal to participate in such medical procedures. In addition, the law states that no hospital or health-care institution can be required to perform an abortion or provide abortion services.

Insurance Coverage Ban

The law would have prohibited qualified health plans offered through a state exchange under the Affordable Care Act from including coverage for abortion services. The coverage limitation would not have applied to an abortion performed when the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest, or if the life of the mother is endangered.

STATUS

This bill passed the House on May 16, 2013, but failed to advance any further.

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