{"id":1839871,"date":"2023-02-08T11:36:35","date_gmt":"2023-02-08T16:36:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1839871"},"modified":"2023-02-08T11:40:42","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T16:40:42","slug":"texas-sues-biden-admin-over-pharmacy-mandate-to-dispense-abortion-drugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-sues-biden-admin-over-pharmacy-mandate-to-dispense-abortion-drugs\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Sues Biden Admin Over &#8220;Pharmacy Mandate&#8221; to Dispense Abortion Drugs"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftexas-sues-biden-admin-over-pharmacy-mandate-to-dispense-abortion-drugs%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1839871&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47-->\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/t-texas\">Texas<\/a> filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration on Tuesday to block federal health guidance that\u00a0allegedly forces pharmacies to dispense <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/t-abortion\">Abortion<\/a>-inducing drugs.<\/p>\n<p>The Biden administration, July 2022 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/about\/news\/2022\/07\/13\/hhs-issues-guidance-nations-retail-pharmacies-clarifying-their-obligations-ensure-access-comprehensive-reproductive-health-care-services.html\">Publication of guidance<\/a> The requirement that pharmacies supply women with abortion-inducing medications or the risk of losing Medicaid and Medicare funds.<\/p>\n<p>Texas asserts in its lawsuit. This refers collectively to the guidance as the \u201cpharmacy mandate,\u201d The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has tried to impose a federal right of abortion via executive fiat.\u00a0The lawsuit said this was a part of the Biden administration\u2019s \u201cwar against\u201d the Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u2019s Health decision. The 1973 ruling making abortion legal in all 50 states was reversed by this ruling.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut whether the Biden Administration likes it or not, the question of abortion is up to the people\u2019s elected representatives\u2014not unelected bureaucrats,\u201d The lawsuit states that (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.texasattorneygeneral.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/press\/Filed%20Complaint.pdf\">pdf<\/a>). \u201cThe Biden Administration\u2019s attempt to inject itself into that question is both procedurally and substantively illegal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The HHS guidance,\u00a0which involved roughly 60,000 U.S. retail pharmacies, claims that federal anti-discrimination law requires pharmacies to provide these drugs. The guidance was published on July 13, 2022. This came just days after President Joe Biden signed an executive directive that made it easier for women to get abortion services.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4960774\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2023\/01\/04\/GettyImages-1241524355-1200x800.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-4960774\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy size-medium wp-image-4960774\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/themes\/eet\/images\/white.png\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/GettyImages-1241524355-600x400-1.jpg\" alt=\"Epoch Times Photo\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\"   style=\"display:none\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4960774\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/GettyImages-1241524355-600x400-1.jpg\" alt=\"Epoch Times Photo\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><\/noscript><\/figcaption><\/a> Mifepristone, one of the two drugs used in a chemical abortion, can be dispensed by brick-and-mortar pharmacies via online prescriptions\u2014if permitted under state law. (Robyn Beck\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figure>\n<h2>\u2018Patently False\u2019Paxton Pushes Back<\/h2>\n<p>However,\u00a0Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, argues that\u00a0Title IX\u2019s anti-discrimination protections don\u2019t require companies to provide abortions, and instead protect any person or entity from being forced to aid in the provision of abortions.<\/p>\n<p>According to Paxton\u2019s office, the alleged HHS assertion that federal anti-discrimination law mandates every pharmacy to provide abortion drugs is \u201cpatently false.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Paxton further argues that the Supreme Court returned\u00a0the power to decide on abortion law back to the states, instead of the federal government. The \u201cpharmacy mandate,\u201d Therefore, it preempts certain state laws which prohibit pharmacies providing abortion-inducing drug and goes against Paxton&#8217;s Dobbs Decision.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Biden Administration knows it has no legal authority to institute this radical abortion agenda, so it is trying to intimidate every pharmacy in America by threatening to withhold federal funds,\u201d Paxton stated this in a statement issued Tuesday. \u201cTexas and several other states across the country have passed laws to protect the unborn, and we are not going to back down just because unelected bureaucrats in Washington want to create illegal, extremist federal policies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit was filed at the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas.\u00a0According to the lawsuit Texas wants the pharmacy guidance to be vacated and its enforcement to be stopped.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3715018\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2021\/02\/01\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-28-at-7.05.04-PM-1200x758.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3715018\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy size-medium wp-image-3715018\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/themes\/eet\/images\/white.png\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-28-at-7.05.04-PM-600x379-1.jpg\" alt=\"Epoch Times Photo\" width=\"600\" height=\"379\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3715018\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-28-at-7.05.04-PM-600x379-1.jpg\" alt=\"Epoch Times Photo\" width=\"600\" height=\"379\" \/><\/noscript><\/figcaption><\/a> Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during an interview with The Epoch Times\u2019 \u201cCrossroads\u201d at the Conservative Political Action Conference (Orlando) on February 27, 2021. (The Epoch Time)<\/figure>\n<h2>HHS Guidance<\/h2>\n<p>The original copy of the HHS guidance document published in July 2022 is not currently available on the department\u2019s website,\u00a0but a version archived on Jan. 23, 2023 can still be accessed (<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20230201194843\/https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/pharmacies-guidance.pdf\">pdf<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>This guidance reminds around 60,000 retail pharmacies, and their employees, of their obligation \u201cunder federal civil rights laws\u201d Access to prescription medication must be guaranteed<\/p>\n<p>HHS said in the guidance that among its\u00a0civil rights enforcement responsibilities, its Office for Civil Rights is responsible for \u201cprotecting the rights of women and pregnant people in their ability to access care that is free from discrimination.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis includes their ability to access reproductive health care, including prescription medication from their pharmacy, free from discrimination,\u201d The guidance states.<\/p>\n<p>According to guidance, discrimination can include denial of a prescription for medication that will help with miscarriage or denial of medication for a disability.<\/p>\n<p>The guidance stated that any entity that receives federal financial assistance (e.g., Medicare and Medicaid) is prohibited from following the law. \u201cdiscriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, and disability.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>HHS said this included supplying\u00a0prescribed medications; \u201cmaking determinations regarding the suitability of prescribed medications for a patient; and advising a patient about prescribed medications and how to take them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are committed to ensuring that everyone can access health care, free of discrimination,\u201d HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra made the statement in July 2022. \u201cThis includes access to prescription medications for reproductive health and other types of care.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Biden&#8217;s administration pointed out that the guidance it provided was part of its effort to protect abortion rights.<\/p>\n<p>The Epoch Times reached out to HHS for comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Texas filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration on Tuesday to block federal health guidance that\u00a0allegedly forces pharmacies to dispense Abortion-inducing drugs. The Biden administration, July 2022 Publication of guidance The requirement that pharmacies supply women with abortion-inducing medications or the risk of losing Medicaid and Medicare funds. Texas asserts in its lawsuit. This refers &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1839874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[547],"tags":[4310,4496,3620,18045,7137,5527,13826,5178,3694],"class_list":["post-1839871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-bongino-report","tag-abortion","tag-admin","tag-biden","tag-dispense","tag-drugs","tag-mandate","tag-pharmacy","tag-sues","tag-texas"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1839871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1839871"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1839871\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1839874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1839871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1839871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1839871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}