Catholics File Federal Lawsuit Over Birth Control Insurance Mandate

More than 40 Catholic groups and institutions have filed federal lawsuits over an HHS mandate that requires employers to provide female employees health insurance coverage for contraceptives, claiming the federal requirement is a violation of religious freedoms promised in the First Amendment, according to a Reuters report.

HHS included birth control coverage on its list of essential health benefits, part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, after an advisory panel of the Institute of Medicine recommended the White House include birth control coverage to promote maternal and child health.

PPACA requires employers to provide their employees coverage under health plans with essential health benefits or be subject to fines.

The Archdiocese of Washington, Catholic University of America and the University of Notre Dame — where President Barack Obama delivered a commencement speech in 2009 — have all filed suit.

Religious organizations and houses of worship are exempt from having to pay for employees' birth control. However, the exemption does not mean women employed by religious institutions are barred from free birth control. Health insurers of religious institutions are required to provide birth control directly to female employees who want it, without charging a co-pay or deductible.

That exemption doesn't go far enough, claims the Catholic groups filing suit. For instance, Notre Dame's complaint contests it is unclear whether the university would qualify for the exemption because its mission is to employ and serve people, regardless of their faith.

The original law exempting religious institutions from providing free birth control to employees does not include religious nonprofits such as hospitals, schools and churches.

The Department of Justice has asked judges to dismiss previous lawsuits over the issue of federally-mandated insurance coverage for birth control.  

The mandate requiring birth control on insurance plans that affects religious institutions would not go into effect until next year, according to a Washington Post report.

More Articles Related to the Affordable Care Act:

3 Hospital Leaders Discuss Unintended Consequences of the Affordable Care Act
If Court Strikes Down Healthcare Law, GOP May Not Offer Alternative Plan
HHS Awards $181M to 6 States for Health Insurance Exchanges

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.