Birth control costs to be paid by employer

Religious institutions in all states will soon be required to cover free birth control for employees, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently ruled. Most new and renewed health plans will begin covering contraceptives Aug. 1, 2012.

After reviewing more than 200,000 comments from relevant parties, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a press release that nonprofit religious hospitals, colleges and social service agencies have until Aug. 1, 2013, to comply with the regulation, which is part of the health care overhaul.

The one-year extension intends to allow employers time and flexibility to implement the new coverage, but must qualify for the delayed implementation.

Starting Jan. 1, 2014, employers must cover emergency contraceptives and sterilizations for women without cost-sharing and must inform employees where contraceptive services are available.

Some critics have called the provision an infringement of religious freedom that blurs the line between church and state.

“This kind of mandate has raised serious concerns about faith-based hospitals, not only Catholic hospitals but also religious-based,” said Joe Stuteville, spokesman for the corporate headquarters of the Franciscan Alliance in Mishawaka, Ind. “There may be some constitutional questions involved.”

Although the health care overhaul does not require insurance plans to cover abortions, critics said the ruling suggests the federal government could force religious employers to pay for them.

“The Catholic Church will never offer coverage for contraceptives, aborted patients or perform sterilizations to conform to the President’s reproductive health care mandate,” said Sister Diane Carroll, the director of the Pro-Life Ministry for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. “Informed Catholics must respond responsibly to the present administration’s disdain to religious freedom in the United States.”

Currently, 26 states, Indiana excluded, require employers to cover contraceptives approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures website.

The health administration consulted an advisory panel last year from the Institute of Medicine for the decision to put birth control on the list of drugs covered by employer health insurance.

Sebelius said she believes the ruling “strikes the appropriate balance between religious freedom and increasing access to important preventive services.”
However, the Catholic Health Association of the United States sees the ruling as a missed opportunity.

“The challenge that these regulations posed for many groups remains unresolved,” said Carol Keehan, president and chief executive officer of CHA. “This indicates the need for an effective national conversation on the appropriate conscience protections in our pluralistic country, which has always respected the role of religions.”