Theso-called conscience rule will encourage discrimination againstwomen and the LGBT community, according to complaints. (Photo:Shutterstock)

President Donald Trump's administration was sued by almost twodozen states and cities over a federal rule allowing businesses andindividuals to refuse health-care services based on theirreligious beliefs or moral convictions.

The so-called conscience rule will encourage discriminationagainst women and the LGBT community by limiting access tocontraceptive care and abortion as well as services required bytransgender Americans, according to complaints filed Tuesday infederal courts in New York and California.

Related: New HHS division to focus on moral, religiousobjections

“A war is being waged on access to health care across ourcountry from Alabama to Texas to Washington D.C., where once againthe president and vice president are issuing illegal rules that usehealth care as a political weapon while risking American lives,”California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, said in astatement announcing his lawsuit.

New York Attorney General Letitia James also sued, along with agroup of states and cities that include Pennsylvania, Hawaii andChicago, claiming residents will be put at risk. She said the newrule will allow ambulance drivers, emergency-room doctors andcustomer-service representatives at insurance companies to refusecare in violation of patients' constitutional rights.

The Department of Health and Human Services has said the rulechange is needed to protect the religious freedom of employees whomay object to some health-care procedures. It's part of a broadercultural clash between the religious right, who helped get Trumpelected, and progressives who've been challenging his agenda incourt.

“The federal government is giving health care providers freelicense to openly discriminate and refuse care to patients –- agross misinterpretation of religious freedom that will havedevastating consequences on communities throughout the country,”James said in a statement.

The plaintiffs say they risk losing billions of dollars infederal health-care funding if states and municipalities fail tocomply with the change.

Read more: 

• Even with insurance, LGBT individuals delay medicalcare
• A separate insurance bill for abortioncoverage?
• Supreme Court will hear major LGBT workplacecases

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