HHS Enhances Enforcement of Parental Consent Laws in Pediatric Medicine

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched multiple initiatives aimed at reinforcing parental rights in pediatric healthcare settings, particularly concerning vaccinations and access to children's health information. This follows a complaint about a Midwestern school allegedly administering a federally provided vaccine to a child without parental consent, ignoring a state law religious exemption. HHS is investigating whether the school violated the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) requirements that condition federal vaccine provision on compliance with state religious exemptions. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is also reviewing how state agencies and school districts handle religious exemption requests under the VFC program. Additionally, the HHS issued a "Dear Colleague" letter to healthcare providers emphasizing parental rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule, which grants parents access to their children's protected health information when they have legal authority over healthcare decisions. OCR will conduct compliance reviews on large healthcare providers to ensure parents receive timely access to this information. Further, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced that all recipients of Health Center Program funds must comply with federal and state parental consent laws before providing any services to minors, including medical, dental, behavioral, and sensitive services. This directive makes parental consent a clear condition for grant funding, reinforcing regulatory compliance across HRSA-supported health centers. These measures underscore HHS's commitment to ensure healthcare providers respect parental rights in pediatric care and maintain accountability in federally supported health initiatives.