LANSING, MI (MPRN)-- A state Senate committee has approved legislation that would allow health care providers and insurance companies to deny patients contraception and other medical services if they have a moral objection.
Michigan Public Radio’s Rick Pluta tells us the measure only allows exceptions in cases of medical emergencies:
Michigan already allows health care providers to refuse to provide abortions. The Catholic church is among the groups that’s trying to extend “conscientious objector” protection for other services and procedures.
Republican state Senator John Moolenaar: “It gives protection to employees and institutions that have religious liberty and conscientious objection concerns with providing a health care service,” he says.
“To me, the right of the patient to receive the healthcare they need has got to be paramount.”
State Senator Rebekuh Warren says that’s why she voted against the bill. She is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Health Policy Committee.
The full Senate could vote on the bill once it returns from a two-week spring break.