HHS probes Michigan system over religious discrimination

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HHS’ Office for Civil Rights has launched an investigation into a large, unnamed health system in Michigan following allegations of religious discrimination, the agency said June 20.

The investigation will determine whether the health system’s policies comply with conscience protection laws collectively known as the Church Amendments, which safeguard healthcare workers from discrimination based on their religious or moral beliefs.

HHS said a medical professional at an organizational healthcare provider within the system was allegedly fired after seeking religious accommodations from employment practice related to patient pronoun use and participation in gender-affirming care procedures. 

“OCR is committed to enforcing federal conscience laws in health care,” OCR Director Paula Stannard said in a news release. “Healthcare workers should be able to practice both their professions and their faith.”

The investigation marks the third launched during President Donald Trump’s second term, part of a broader federal push to enforce conscience and religious nondiscrimination protections in HHS-funded programs.

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