The Department of Health and Human Services today announced its final guidelines for non-profit organizations with religious objections to the most contentious part of the Affordable Care Act: whore pills and other sluttish contraceptives.
The news is good! The ACA will require all new health insurance plans to cover contraceptives and other preventive health services with no co-pay or deductible. Yay! Organizations like National Women’s Law Center and Planned Parenthood commended the announcement.
“The bottom line is that today’s final rule confirms that millions more women will have access to this basic and essential health care, without interference from their bosses,” said NWLC Vice President of Health & Reproductive Rights Judy Waxman. “This means that women will have access to birth control at no cost, no matter where they work,” said Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “This is a historic moment for women’s health and economic security.”
But what does this mean for all the companies that are still fighting Obamacare’s contraception coverage in court? According to the NWLC, 65 lawsuits have been filed in federal court challenging the Affordable Care Act’s no cost-sharing contraceptive coverage benefit; 27 cases are closed and 38 cases are currently pending. Yesterday, a conservative federal appeals court ruled that Hobby Lobby stores won’t have to pay fines for refusing to cover employees’ birth control while the company’s case proceeds. Will today’s decision impact Hobby Lobby’s crafty righteousness?
Nope. The announcement just streamlines the process for those employers going for the religious accommodation. The non-profit companies that are fighting the mandate aren’t going to give up this easily.
Image via AP.