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S 1467 112th Congress Senate

Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011

Official title: A bill to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to protect rights of conscience with regard to requirements for coverage of specific items and services.

Introduced: October 5, 2011 See on congress.gov
Health Civil actions and liabilityComprehensive health careHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and access
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Health personnelMedical ethicsReligion
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 2, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Aug 2, 2011
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action August 2, 2011

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011 - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to permit a health plan to decline coverage of specific items and services that are contrary to the religious beliefs of the sponsor, issuer, or other entity offering the plan or the purchaser or beneficiary (in the case of individual coverage) without penalty.  Declares that such plans are still considered to: (1) be providing the essential health benefits package or preventive health services, (2) be a qualified health plan, and (3) have fulfilled other requirements under PPACA.

Declares that nothing in PPACA shall be construed to authorize a health plan to require a provider to provide, participate in, or refer for a specific item or service contrary to the provider's religious beliefs or moral convictions. Prohibits a health plan from being considered to have failed to provide timely or other access to items or services or to fulfill any other requirement under PPACA because it has respected the rights of conscience of such a provider.

Prohibits an American Health Benefit Exchange (a state health insurance exchange) or other official or entity acting in a governmental capacity in the course of implementing PPACA from discriminating against a health plan, plan sponsor, health care provider, or other person because of an unwillingness to provide coverage of, participate in, or refer for, specific items or services.

Creates a private cause of action for the protection of individual rights created under this Act. Authorizes any person or entity to assert a violation of this Act as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding.

Designates the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to receive and investigate complaints of discrimination based on this Act.

Makes this Act effective as if it were included in PPACA.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1467: Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1467/
MLA
"S. 1467: Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1467/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1467, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1467/.
Markdown link
[S. 1467: Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1467/)
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