White House preps broad exemptions from birth control mandate
The Trump administration is poised to make changes to ObamaCare’s birth control coverage mandate by granting broad exemptions to employers that object on religious or moral grounds, a move that would impact thousands of women who currently get contraception from employer-provided insurance plans with no out-of-pocket costs.
Any changes to the mandate, which requires that insurers cover birth control with no co-payment, would be a victory for religious groups and employers that have been engaged in legal battles since the requirement took effect in 2012.
Reproductive rights groups are already threatening to sue the Trump administration if it takes any action to weaken or undo the mandate.
According to a leaked May 23 draft of the rule obtained by Vox, any employer — including colleges, universities and health insurance companies — would be allowed to seek an exemption on moral or religious grounds. Currently, only houses of worship and some companies are exempt.
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/335797-white-house-preps-broad-exemptions-from-birth-control-mandate
