U.S. officials move to end Bush healthcare rule

By David Alexander

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's administration took a first step on Friday toward rescinding a controversial rule mandated by the Bush administration that protects U.S. health workers who refuse to participate in abortions and other care on moral grounds.

An official at the Department of Health and Human Services said the rule had "upset the balance" between allowing doctors to decline to provide abortions and protecting the rights of women to get the care they need.

The move to rescind the rule was welcomed by abortion rights groups and condemned by opponents of abortion. House of Representatives Republican leader John Boehner said it would weaken a rule "meant to safeguard the sanctity of human life."

Current law protects healthcare workers who do not want to perform abortions.

The Bush administration rule that took effect on January 20 -- the same day as Barack Obama was sworn in as president -- went further by preventing hospitals, clinics and other groups that receive federal money from discriminating against workers who refuse to participate in care they find objectionable.

The wording was vague enough to let health professionals invoke the conscience clause for things like contraceptives, family planning and counseling for vaccines and blood transfusions, the agency official said on condition of anonymity.

"We recognize and understand that some providers have objections to providing abortions. We want to ensure that current law protects them," the official said.

"But we do not want to impose new limitations on services ... like family planning and contraception that would actually help prevent the need for an abortion in the first place."