Women’s groups are hailing the Obama administration’s reported decision to roll back Bush-era protections for health-care workers who refuse to provide services because of moral objections.

"We heartily commend the Obama administration for recognizing this rule for what it is: a targeted attack on women’s health and rights. Rescinding this harmful rule is a step back from the precipice; women across the country will be able to breathe easier once their right to information and needed services has been fully restored," said Marcia D. Greenberger, co-president of the National Women’s Law Center.

The Bush administration regulation allowed federal funding to be cut off to any health-care facility that didn’t let doctors or nurses opt out of procedures — including abortion — to which they objected, or which were against their religious beliefs. Government officials told The Washington Post today that they’re reviewing a proposal to get rid of the regulation. Officials said the way it’s worded now is too broad and could restrict women from getting vital services. Family-planning groups have said it could even stretch to not giving women contraceptives. The Los Angeles Times notes that seven states and two family-planning groups have filed lawsuits against the regulation.

"We support a tightly written conscience clause. We recognize and understand that some providers have objections about abortion, and we want to make sure that current law protects them," a Health and Human Services official told the Post. "We want to be thoughtful about this." 

But the Christian Medical Association argues there’s no confusion about the rule, and that rescinding it is what puts women’s health at risk, "threatens health-care professionals’ freedom to practice medicine according to ethical standards and exposes the myth of moderation in Obama’s abortion policy."

It even goes as far to say that health-care workers serving some of the nation’s poorest populations could be adversely affected by the rule. "Infringing on their right to practice medicine according to these life-affirming ethical standards will force them to leave the profession and to shut down the hospitals and clinics," said the association’s CEO, David Stevens.

The debate over this controversial topic undoubtedly will heat up over the next month or so. We’ll keep you posted on all the developments!