In a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health today, advocates and congressional representatives sparred over whether the religious exemptions in new federal regulations are strong enough to protect religious employers from having to provide insurance that covers contraception. NPR's health blog has more:
Right now, the religious exemption included in the rules "is so narrow that it excludes virtually all Catholic hospitals, elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, and charitable organizations," Jane Belford, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Washington, told the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.
As a result, her organization wouldn't be exempt, she said, and it would have to start offering contraception and sterilization services as part of the health plan it provides to its 3,800 employees.
That change would be anathema to her group and others in the same situation, she said. "Catholic organizations cannot effectively and persuasively communicate the church's teaching that contraception and sterilization are immoral if they simultaneously pay for contraceptives for their employees," she said.
Opponents to the requirement say the exemption should be broadened, or that Congress should pass a special law protecting such decisions of conscience. The Respect for Rights of Conscience Act was introduced in the house in March of this year and would amend the Affordable Care Act with sweeping exemptions for patients, health care providers and insurance providers from requirements to cover services violating their religious beliefs.
You can read the opening statements of the witnesses and the subcommittee chair here.
Importantly, the rule has not yet gone into effect. A few months ago, HHS published preliminary regulations for public comment, but they have not yet released final versions of the rule.
