Federal review examines compliance with parental-consent laws, access to minors’ health records, and requirements tied to federally funded health center.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched an investigation into a Midwestern public school after the school vaccinated a student who had a religious exemption without parental consent. The department said the review will determine whether the school followed the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program’s rules on honoring state religious-exemption laws and how the district currently handles exemption requests.
“If a provider ignores consent, violates an exemption, or keeps parents in the dark, HHS will act — quickly and decisively,” Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. wrote on X. “We will use every tool we have to protect families and restore accountability.”
In addition, the department sent a letter to remind health providers that federal law requires parents to have timely access to their children’s medical information under the HIPAA Privacy Rule. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has begun compliance checks to ensure providers meet these requirements.
The department also directed the Health Resources and Services Administration to add a grant condition requiring federally funded health centers to follow state and federal parental-consent laws for care provided to minors. According to HHS officials, these actions apply across pediatric services—including cases where schools or clinics provide medical care under federal programs.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Kennedy to be led by the Lord as he heads the federal health department and seeks to ensure compliance with laws pertaining to religious exemptions and parental rights.
- For personnel in the Office of Civil Rights as they review how parental-consent and record-access laws are carried out in schools and health centers.
- For the school district officials and health providers to respond to parental requests and concerns in a timely manner.
Sources: MSN, Washington Examiner, Daily Signal
