,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #adc ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #bd 7legislative day1 ,january #c71 #bjac ,mr4 ,casey introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to prohibit discrimination and retaliation against individuals and health care entities that refuse to recommend1 refer for1 provide coverage for1 pay for1 provide1 perform1 assist1 or participate in abortions4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,the ,health ,care ,provider and ,hospital ,conscience ,protection ,act4 #b4 ,conscience protection 7a7 ,nondiscrimination ,neither the ,federal ,government nor a ,state or local government that receives ,federal financial assistance shall discriminate or retaliate against any individual or health care entity because of the refusal by the individual or health care entity to recommend1 refer for1 provide coverage for1 pay for1 provide1 perform1 assist1 or participate in1 any abortion4 7b7 ,scope ,discrimination and retaliation prohibited under subsection 7a7 includes-- 7#a7 denial1 deprivation1 or disqualification in licensing2 7#b7 withholding accreditations1 authorizations1 loans1 grants1 aids1 assistance1 benefits1 or privileges2 and 7#c7 withholding authorization to expand1 improve1 finance1 or create facilities or programs4 #c4 ,judicial relief 7a7 ,cause of action ,an individual or health care entity aggrieved by a violation of this ,act may file a civil action in a district court of the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,remedies ,in a civil action filed under subsection 7a71 a court may order any form of legal or equitable relief1 including-- 7#a7 injunctive relief prohibiting conduct that violates this ,act2 and 7#b7 an order preventing the disbursement of all or a portion of ,federal financial assistance to a ,state government that receives ,federal financial assistance until such time as the conduct prohibited by this ,act has ceased4 7c7 ,enforcement by the ,united ,states ,the ,attorney ,general may file a civil action seeking injunctive or declaratory relief to enforce compliance with this ,act4 7d7 ,administration ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall designate the ,director of the ,office of ,civil ,rights of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services-- 7#a7 to receive complaints alleging a violation of this ,act2 and 7#b7 to pursue the investigation of such complaints in coordination with the ,attorney ,general of the ,united ,states4 #d4 ,rules of construction 7a7 ,subsequently enacted ,federal law ,federal statutory law and regulations adopted after the date of enactment of this ,act are subject to the requirements of this ,act unless such law explicitly excludes such application by reference to this ,act4 7b7 ,broad construction ,this ,act shall be construed in favor of broad conscience protection for individuals and health care entities1 to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of this ,act and the ,constitution of the ,united ,states4 7c7 ,severability ,if any provision of this ,act or any application of such provision to any person or circumstance1 is held to be unconstitutional1 the remainder of this ,act and the application of the provision to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected4 #e4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,the term ,federal ,government means the ,united ,states1 including branches1 departments1 agencies1 instrumentalities1 and officials of the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,the term ,state government that receives ,federal financial assistance means with respect to the receipt of ,federal financial assistance-- 7,a7 a ,state 7including the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico and each territory and possession of the ,united ,states72 7,b7 any county1 municipality1 or other governmental entity created under the authority of such a ,state2 and 7,c7 any branch1 department1 agency1 instrumentality1 or official of such a ,state or of an entity described in paragraph 7,b74 7#c7 ,the term individual means any individual physician1 nurse1 other health care professional1 student in a health care professional program1 or any other person engaged in training for or providing health care services4 7#d7 ,the term health care entity means any hospital1 provider sponsored organization1 accountable care organization1 health maintenance organization1 health insurance plan1 or any other health care facility1 organization1 or plan4 7#e7 ,the term ,federal financial assistance means payments by the ,federal ,government to cover1 in whole or in part1 the cost of health care items1 services or benefits1 or other payments1 grants1 or loans by the ,federal ,government to promote or facilitate health care services1 including1 but not limited to1 payments provided as reimbursement for the provision of health care items or services4