Path to Health Grants Eased for Religious Groups Under HHS Rule

Religious groups will be able to more easily receive federal grant funds under a rule finalized by the Department of Health and Human Services Thursday.

The regulation is intended to reverse rulemaking by the Obama administration that prohibited recipients of grants for foster care programs from discriminating on the basis of age, disability, sex, race, color, national origin, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or same-sex marital status.

The rule addresses the concerns of faith-based organizations that they could be prevented from participating in or forced out of HHS grant programs if they refuse to provide care based on those identities, ...