HB 2523

Present law prohibits a healthcare provider from be ing required to participate in or pay for a healthcare procedure, treatment, or service that violates the conscience of the healthcare provider. The right is limited to a particular healthcare procedure, treatment, or service, and does not waive or modify a ny duty a healthcare provider may have to provide or pay for healthcare procedures, treatments, or services that do not violate the healthcare provider's conscience; and does not authorize a healthcare payer to decline payment for a healthcare procedure, treatment, or service it is contractually obligated to pay for under the terms of a contract with an insured party. This bill clarifies that the right also does not authorize a healthcare provider to refuse to participate in or pay for pregnancy-related healthcare procedures, treatments, or services that are within the scope of the healthcare provider's license and professional obligations; and does not authorize a healthcare institution or healthcare payer to adopt or enforce a policy, guideline, or contractual provision that results in the denial of pregnancy-related healthcare procedures, treatments, or services base d on the exercise of the right. As used in this bill, "p regnancy-related healthcare procedures, treatments, or services"" mean healthcare procedures, treatments, or services provided to a pregnant patient, which includes:  Emergency medical care.  Diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of pregnancy-related conditions or complications.  Care necessary to prevent serious risk to the pregnant patient's life or health.  Standard obstetric, gynecological, prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum care."